COMPARATIVE DENTAL OCCLUSAL MORPHOLOGY, FACET DEVELOPMENT, AND MICROWEAR IN 2 SYMPATRIC SPECIES OF LISTRIODON (MAMMALIA, SUIDAE) FROM THE MIDDLE MIOCENE OF WESTERN ANATOLIA (TURKEY)
Jp. Hunter et M. Fortelius, COMPARATIVE DENTAL OCCLUSAL MORPHOLOGY, FACET DEVELOPMENT, AND MICROWEAR IN 2 SYMPATRIC SPECIES OF LISTRIODON (MAMMALIA, SUIDAE) FROM THE MIDDLE MIOCENE OF WESTERN ANATOLIA (TURKEY), Journal of vertebrate paleontology, 14(1), 1994, pp. 105-126
The occurrence of two species of the suid Listriodon at the middle Mio
cene locality Pasalar, western Anatolia, offers a rare possibility to
compare dental wear and microwear in sympatric, closely related specie
s. We studied ail the worn tooth surfaces available in a sample of the
lophodont Listriodon cf. L. splendens and the sublophodont L. aff. L.
latidens from Pasalar, using simple methods to describe and quantify
various aspects of wear. Major differences between dental surfaces and
Various sets of occlusal facets can be shown within and between the s
pecies. The differences within species among ''major,'' ''minor,'' and
''phase II'' facets are pronounced, more so than the difference betwe
en buccal and lingual facet groupings. The difference between species
is most marked for the phase II facets, which also have the largest we
ar features. The between-species difference (but not the between-facet
group difference) is much stronger for moderately worn teeth than for
little-worn or much-worn teeth. The more developed lophodonty, earlie
r major facet development, and smaller maximum pit sizes in L. cf. L.
splendens, compared to L. aff. L. latidens, all are consistent with th
e interpretation that L. cf. L. splendens was a more specialized foliv
ore than L. aff. L. latidens and other less lophodont listriodonts.