| Dietary change and evolution of horses in North America. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21385712 Owner: NLM Status: In-Process |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The evolution of high-crowned molars among horses (Family Equidae) is thought to be an adaptation for abrasive diets associated with the spread of grasslands. The sharpness and relief of the worn cusp apices of teeth (mesowear) are a measure of dietary abrasion. We collected mesowear data for North American Equidae for the past 55.5 million years to test the association of molar height and dietary abrasion. Mesowear trends in horses are reflective of global cooling and associated vegetation changes. There is a strong correlation between mesowear and crown height in horses; however, most horse paleopopulations had highly variable amounts of dietary abrasion, suggesting that selective pressures for crown height may have been weak much of the time. However, instances of higher abrasion were observed in some paleopopulations, suggesting intervals of stronger selection for the evolution of dentitions, including the early Miocene shortly before the first appearance of Equinae, the horse subfamily in which high-crowned dentitions evolved. |
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Authors:
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Matthew C Mihlbachler; Florent Rivals; Nikos Solounias; Gina M Semprebon |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Science (New York, N.Y.) Volume: 331 ISSN: 1095-9203 ISO Abbreviation: Science Publication Date: 2011 Mar |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-03-09 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0404511 Medline TA: Science Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1178-81 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Anatomy, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA. mmihlbac@nyit.edu |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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