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Mastication and enamel microstructure in Cambaytherium, a perissodactyl-like ungulate from the early Eocene of India

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Abstract

The dentition of Cambaytherium was investigated in terms of dental wear, tooth replacement and enamel microstructure. The postcanine tooth row shows a significant wear gradient, with flattened premolars and anterior molars at a time when the last molars are only little worn. This wear gradient, which is more intensive in Cambaytherium thewissi than in Cambaytherium gracilis, and the resulting flattened occlusal surfaces, may indicate a preference for a durophagous diet. The tooth replacement (known only in C. thewissi) shows an early eruption of the permanent premolars. They are in function before the third molars are fully erupted. During the dominant phase I of the chewing cycle the jaw movement is very steep, almost orthal, with a slight mesiolingual direction and changes into a horizontal movement during phase II. The enamel microstructure shows Hunter-Schreger-bands (HSB) in the inner zone of the enamel. In some teeth the transverse orientation of the HSB is modified into a zig-zag pattern, possibly an additional indicator of a durophagous diet.

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Fig. 1

Photos: PM 1A-B, KR 1C

Fig. 2

Photos: GO 2B-D, KR 2E-F

Fig. 3

(Sources: 1—West 1971, 2—Franzen 2007, 3—Rose et al. 2017, 4—Possmann Dias 2005, 5—Smith 2000). Photos: PM 3A-B

Fig. 4

Photos: WvK 4A-C; OG 4D

Fig. 5

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Acknowledgements

We thank Heather Ahrens, Rachel Dunn, Annelise Folie, François Gould, Hukam Singh, Laccham Singh, Floréal Solé, and Gina McKusick Voegele for field assistance. Support for field work and research from the National Geographic Society (grants 6868-00, 7938-05, 8356-07, 8710-09, 8958-11, 9240-12), The Leakey Foundation, The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Belgian Science Policy Office (project BR/121/A3/PALEURAFRICA), the U.S. National Science Foundation (DEB-0211976, DEB 1456826), and the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology is gratefully acknowledged. The personnel of the Gujarat Industrial Power Corporation Ltd. and Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation facilitated our excavations at Vastan, Mangrol, and Tadkeshwar mines. This paper is part of a project studying the functional aspects of mammalian dentitions sponsored by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within the DFG Research Unit 771 “Function and performance enhancement in the mammalian dentition of phylogenetic and ontogenetic impact on the masticatory apparatus” and carries the publication no. 96 of the FOR 771. Compiling this paper we appreciated comments and information from B. Holly Smith (Ann Arbor), Jens Franzen (Titisee). Daniela Kalthoff and Thomas Mörs (both Stockholm) and one anonymous reviewer helped with their comments. Photos were provided by Georg Oleschinski, Bonn (GO) and Pieter Missiaen, Brussels (PM). Cordial thanks to all of them.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universität Bonn, Steinmann Institut (Paläontologie), Nussallee 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Wighart von Koenigswald

  2. Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 East Monument Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Kenneth D. Rose

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, 08028, USA

    Luke T. Holbrook

  4. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248001, India

    Kishor Kumar

  5. Department of Geology, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, 246175, India

    Rajendra S. Rana

  6. Directorate Earth and History of Life, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Rue Vautier 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium

    Thierry Smith

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  1. Wighart von Koenigswald
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  2. Kenneth D. Rose
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  3. Luke T. Holbrook
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Correspondence to Wighart von Koenigswald.

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Handling editor: Thomas Mörs.

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von Koenigswald, W., Rose, K.D., Holbrook, L.T. et al. Mastication and enamel microstructure in Cambaytherium, a perissodactyl-like ungulate from the early Eocene of India. PalZ 92, 671–680 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-018-0422-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-018-0422-8

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