AI Article Synopsis
- Anomodonts were the dominant herbivorous reptiles during the Permian period, known for their unique dental features.
- A new species from South America has been identified, featuring expanded palatal teeth and long saber canines, whose function remains uncertain but may involve defense or social interactions.
- This finding enhances our knowledge of early dental evolution in therapsids and offers fresh perspectives on their ecological roles before the end of the Paleozoic era.
Article Abstract
Anomodonts, a group of herbivorous therapsid "mammal-like reptiles," were the most abundant tetrapods of the Permian. We present a basal anomodont from South America, a new taxon that has transversally expanded palatal teeth and long saber canines. The function of the saber teeth is unknown, but probable uses include deterring attack from predators and intraspecific display or combat. The complex palatal teeth were used to process high-fiber food and represent early evidence of dental occlusion in a therapsid. This discovery provides new insight into the evolution of heterogeneous dentition in therapsids and broadens our understanding of ecological interactions at the end of the Paleozoic.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1200305 | DOI Listing |
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