Mammalian Dental Diversity in 4D

Mammalian tooth shape varies widely from simple pointed teeth to complex bladed teeth. Below we illustrate some of this variety in mammals, and demonstrate the basic action of tooth-tooth interaction for some of them. The species are categorised by broad diet.

The password for Sketchfab models is ‘Monash’.

At the bottom of the page are some unidentified teeth and skulls for you to examine and try to determine the likely diet.

Insectivorous Teeth

1 Tribosphenic.png — Tribosphenic model

Idealised 3D models showing the main features of tribosphenic molar teeth.

2 Sorex shrew.png — Pribilof Island Shrew

3D animated skull and teeth from Pribilof Island Shrew (Sorex pribilofensis).

3 Bat.png — Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat

Skull and teeth from a Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat (*Saccolaimus flaviventris*).

Star-nosed mole

Skull and teeth of Star-nosed mole (*Condylura cristata*)

***Ausktribosphenos***

*Ausktribosphenos* was a fossil mammal from 120 million years ago found in Victoria that lived alongside the dinosaurs. Look at its teeth and consider why we think it was insectivorous.

Myrmecophagous

6 Aardwolf.png — Aardwolf

Skull and teeth of the Aardwolf (*Proteles cristata*)

Carnivorous

7 Carnassial.png — Carnassial model

Idealised 3D model showing the features of a set of carnassial teeth.

8 Cheetah.png — Cheetah

Skull and teeth from a Cheetah (*Acinonyx jubatus*).

Dingo

Skull and teeth from an Australian dingo.

Piscivorous

Screen Shot 2020-11-16 at 9.31.06 am.png — Fur Seal

Skull and teeth from an Australian Fur Seal (*Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus*)

Screen Shot 2020-11-16 at 9.31.37 am.png — Dolphin

Skull and teeth from a Common Dolphin (*Delphinus delphis*).

Filter feeders

Leopard Seal

Skull and teeth from an Antarctic leopard seal (*Hydrurga leptonyx*).

Follow this link to see a video of a leopard seal feeding

Screen Shot 2020-11-25 at 1.12.10 pm.png — Crabeater seal

Skull and teeth from an Antarctic crabeater seal (*Lobodon carcinophaga*)

Screen Shot 2020-11-16 at 9.33.16 am.png — Pygmy right whale

Complete skeleton of juvenile pygmy right whale (*Caperea marginata*)

Baleen from pygmy right whale

Sample of baleen segmented from CT scan of the pygmy right whale.

Omnivorous

Screen Shot 2020-11-16 at 9.53.56 am.png — Spectacled bear

Skull and teeth from a spectacled bear (*Tremarctos ornatus*)

Herbivorous - good quality

Screen Shot 2020-11-16 at 10.00.25 am.png — Koala

Skull and teeth from a koala (*Phascolarctos cinereus*)

Screen Shot 2020-11-16 at 10.03.04 am.png — **Matschie's tree-kangaroo**

Skull and teeth from a Matschie's tree-kangaroo (*Dendrolagus matschiei*)

Screen Shot 2020-11-16 at 10.07.46 am.png — Giraffe

Skull and teeth of a Giraffe (*Giraffa camelopardalis*).

Screen Shot 2020-11-16 at 10.13.32 am.png — Warthog

Skull and teeth of a Warthog (*Phacochoerus africanus*) showing the chewing motion.

Screen Shot 2020-11-16 at 10.16.52 am.png — Suni Antelope

Skull and teeth of the Suni (*Neotragus moschatus*)

Herbivorous - low quality

Grey Kangaroo

Skull and teeth of a grey kangaroo (*Macropus giganteus*).

Horse

Skull and teeth of a domestic horse showing their chewing motion.

Mystery Teeth and Skulls

Below are a range of unidentified skulls and teeth. By comparing the teeth of these skulls with those you examined above, try to work out the probable diets for these species. You may also try to guess the identity of each species.

Click here to download the PDF answer sheet.