Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/14407
Title: | Inferring biological evolution from fracture patterns in teeth | Contributor(s): | Lawn, Brian R (author); Bush, Mark B (author); Barani, Amir (author); Constantino, Paul J (author); Wroe, Stephen (author) | Publication Date: | 2013 | DOI: | 10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.08.029 | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/14407 | Abstract: | It is hypothesised that specific tooth forms are adapted to resist fracture, in order to accommodate the high bite forces needed to secure, break down and consume food. Three distinct modes of tooth fracture are identified: longitudinal fracture, where cracks run vertically between the occlusal contact and the crown margin (or vice versa) within the enamel side wall; chipping fracture, where cracks run from near the edge of the occlusal surface to form a spall in the enamel at the side wall; and transverse fracture, where a crack runs horizontally through the entire section of the tooth to break off a fragment and expose the inner pulp. Explicit equations are presented expressing critical bite force for each fracture mode in terms of characteristic tooth dimensions. Distinctive transitions between modes occur depending on tooth form and size, and loading location and direction. Attention is focussed on the relatively flat, low-crowned molars of omnivorous mammals, including humans and other hominins and the elongate canines of living carnivores. At the same time, allusion to other tooth forms - the canines of the extinct sabre-tooth ('Smilodon fatalis'), the conical dentition of reptiles, and the columnar teeth of herbivores - is made to highlight the generality of the methodology. How these considerations impact on dietary behaviour in fossil and living taxa is discussed. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Source of Publication: | Journal of Theoretical Biology, v.338, p. 59-65 | Publisher: | Academic Press | Place of Publication: | United States of America | ISSN: | 1095-8541 0022-5193 |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 040308 Palaeontology (incl Palynology) 060807 Animal Structure and Function |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: | 370506 Palaeontology (incl. palynology) 310911 Animal structure and function |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences 970105 Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences |
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: | 280102 Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences 280111 Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences |
Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal |
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Appears in Collections: | Journal Article |
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