Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Department of Biology, Saint Michael's College, Colchester, Vermont, USA.
Am J Biol Anthropol. 2023 Feb;180(2):401-408. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.24674. Epub 2022 Dec 8.
Archaeolemur is a recently extinct genus of lemur that is often compared to some Cercopithecidae, especially baboons. This is due in part to their derived dentition, with large anterior teeth and reduced bilophodont molars. Research involving comparative morphology, analysis of coprolites, isotopes, and enamel structure, have suggested Archaeolemur had an omnivorous diet involving mechanically challenging items. Yet, microwear analysis of posterior teeth does not necessarily support this conclusion.
In this macroscopic study, dental chipping was recorded on permanent teeth of Archaeolemur from different localities (53 individuals; 447 permanent teeth; including both A. edwardsi and A. majori specimens). This study aimed to compare chipping patterns across the dentition of Archaeolemur with chipping in other primates.
The results show enamel chipping was prevalent on the anterior teeth of Archaeolemur (38.9% of anterior teeth showed at least one fracture) yet rare in posterior teeth (9%). There was a decrease in chipping frequency across the dentition, moving distally from incisors (50%; 20/40), through caniniform teeth (30%; 15/50), premolars (9.5%; 16/169), and molars (8.5%; 16/188).
The results support previous research suggesting Archaeolemur had a varied omnivorous diet in which the anterior dentition was used for extensive food processing. This likely included mechanically challenging items such as tough/hard large fruits, small vertebrates, and crustaceans. Such a high rate of chipping in the anterior dentition is uncommon in other primates, with exception of hominins.
Archaeolemur 是一种最近灭绝的狐猴属，常与某些狒狒科动物进行比较，尤其是狒狒。这部分是由于它们衍生的牙齿，具有较大的前牙和减少的双尖齿磨牙。涉及比较形态学、粪化石分析、同位素和牙釉质结构的研究表明， Archaeolemur 有杂食性饮食，涉及机械性挑战的食物。然而，后牙的微磨损分析并不一定支持这一结论。
在这项宏观研究中，记录了来自不同地点的 Archaeolemur 恒齿的牙釉质剥落（53 个个体；447 颗恒齿；包括 A. edwardsi 和 A. majori 标本）。本研究旨在比较 Archaeolemur 牙齿的剥落模式与其他灵长类动物的剥落模式。
结果表明， Archaeolemur 的前牙上普遍存在牙釉质剥落（38.9%的前牙至少有一处骨折），而在后牙上很少见（9%）。牙釉质剥落的频率随着牙齿的远中移动而减少，从门齿（50%；20/40），通过犬齿（30%；15/50），前臼齿（9.5%；16/169），磨牙（8.5%；16/188）。
研究结果支持先前的研究，表明 Archaeolemur 有广泛的杂食性饮食，其中前牙用于广泛的食物加工。这可能包括具有挑战性的食物，如坚硬的大型水果、小型脊椎动物和甲壳类动物。在其他灵长类动物中，前牙有如此高的剥落率是不常见的，除了人类。
