SELENODONT Meaning and
Definition
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Selenodont is an adjective that describes a specific dental characteristic found in certain mammals. Derived from the Greek words 'selene,' meaning moon, and 'odont,' meaning tooth, selenodont refers to teeth that have crescent-shaped cusps or ridges on their crowns. These crescent-shaped structures resemble the phases of the moon, hence the origin of the term.
Animals with selenodont dentition typically have teeth that are well adapted for chewing fibrous and abrasive substances, such as grasses and vegetation. This dental morphology is commonly found in herbivorous mammals, including many species of ungulates like deer, antelope, and cattle, as well as certain rodents and primates.
The selenodont pattern increases the efficiency of grinding and pulverizing food by allowing the cusps to interlock when chewing. It also provides the teeth with a larger surface area, distributing the forces exerted during chewing more evenly, reducing wear and tear on the teeth.
These specialized teeth are an adaptation to the diets of selenodont animals, enabling them to efficiently process and extract nutrients from their plant-based food sources. This dental feature is considered an evolutionary advantage for herbivores that rely heavily on vegetation as their primary source of nutrition.
Overall, selenodont refers to the specialized dental structure exhibited by herbivorous mammals, characterized by crescent-shaped cusps or ridges, aiding efficient chewing and food processing.
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Noting an animal, or man, having teeth, as the human molars, with longitudinal crescent-shaped ridges.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SELENODONT
Etymology of SELENODONT
The word "selenodont" comes from the combination of two Greek roots: "selene", meaning "moon", and "odont", meaning "tooth". In this context, "selenodont" refers to a type of tooth morphology found in certain herbivorous mammals, where the tooth has crescent-shaped cusps resembling the phases of the moon.
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