You Should Look a Gifted Mammal in the Mouth: Using Dental Morphology to Understand the Evolution of Mammalian Dentition

Dentition is vital to our understanding of mammalian evolution. In this thesis, I use dental morphology as a basis for investigating various phenomena in mammalian dentition. First, I investigate the utility of shape, form, and linear measurement when differentiating species of the genus Mesodma – part of an early group of mammals known as the multituberculates. I found that shape and size metrics reveal different classifications of species. I conclude this chapter by suggesting these methods of differentiation should be investigated further along with the genus. Second, I investigate if cusp shape covariation across the premolar-molar boundary can highlight dental morphology covariance patterns that may contribute to the evolution of molarization in mammals. I found a significant difference in the cusp shape modularity among the two extant orders of hoofed mammals. I infer there are differences in the mechanism of molarization contributing to this differentiation. Further studies are required to infer a mechanism. The studies I present in these chapters showcase how dentition continues to provide important discoveries in the history of mammalian evolution.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Science

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Ashbaugh, Austin J.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Theodor, Jessica

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Dutchak, Alex
• Cote, Susanne
• Jamniczky, Heather

• Dentition
• Mammals
• Evo-Devo
• Geometric Morphometrics
• Modularity
• Hoofed Mammals
• Multituberculate

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/40157

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/115121