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Performance trade-offs define a fundamental dental dichotomy in mammals.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Performance trade-offs define a fundamental dental dichotomy in mammals.
Authors: Chatar, Narimane (AUTHOR), Vankelst, Melvin (AUTHOR), Pérez-Ramos, Alejandro (AUTHOR), Pollock, Tahlia I. (AUTHOR), Tamagnini, Davide (AUTHOR), Michaud, Margot (AUTHOR), Raskin, Levi Yoder (AUTHOR), Tseng, Z. Jack (AUTHOR)
Source: Science. 7/16/2026, Vol. 393 Issue 6808, p265-271. 7p.
Subjects: Molars, Predatory animals, Phylogeny, Mammal evolution, Dentistry
Abstract: Teeth define mammalian evolution, and one of many adaptive dental breakthroughs in crown mammals is the tribosphenic molar: a tooth with a dual shearing-crushing function, often considered a key adaptation in crown mammals. However, we do not know how potential trade-offs between these antagonistic functions may influence the macroevolutionary outcomes of mammalian lineages. Here, we show that predatory mammals evolved dichotomized performance in their tribosphenic carnassial teeth, with slicing constrained to a narrow set of optimal phenotypes and crushing exhibiting redundant solutions. Less than 1% of predators evolved optimized shearing and crushing. The fundamental trade-off in functions of the tribosphenic architecture promoted divergent macroevolutionary specializations rather than functional duality. These results highlight how key innovations can drive early evolutionary success while simultaneously constraining subsequent diversification. Editor's summary: Teeth in mammals vary in form and function both within individuals and across species depending on what they eat. One tooth that has been notable in its importance in mammalian—particularly carnivoran—evolution is the tribosphenic molar, which facilitates both crushing and slicing. Chatar et al. looked at the tooth across 250 species and found that true dual function was present in fewer than 1% of species. Most species instead evolved a trade-off prioritizing one or the other function, leading to specialization rather than duality. —Sacha Vignieri [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:Teeth define mammalian evolution, and one of many adaptive dental breakthroughs in crown mammals is the tribosphenic molar: a tooth with a dual shearing-crushing function, often considered a key adaptation in crown mammals. However, we do not know how potential trade-offs between these antagonistic functions may influence the macroevolutionary outcomes of mammalian lineages. Here, we show that predatory mammals evolved dichotomized performance in their tribosphenic carnassial teeth, with slicing constrained to a narrow set of optimal phenotypes and crushing exhibiting redundant solutions. Less than 1% of predators evolved optimized shearing and crushing. The fundamental trade-off in functions of the tribosphenic architecture promoted divergent macroevolutionary specializations rather than functional duality. These results highlight how key innovations can drive early evolutionary success while simultaneously constraining subsequent diversification. Editor's summary: Teeth in mammals vary in form and function both within individuals and across species depending on what they eat. One tooth that has been notable in its importance in mammalian—particularly carnivoran—evolution is the tribosphenic molar, which facilitates both crushing and slicing. Chatar et al. looked at the tooth across 250 species and found that true dual function was present in fewer than 1% of species. Most species instead evolved a trade-off prioritizing one or the other function, leading to specialization rather than duality. —Sacha Vignieri [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00368075
DOI:10.1126/science.aee3453