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

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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]
Copyright of Science is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Performance trade-offs define a fundamental dental dichotomy in mammals.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chatar%2C+Narimane%22">Chatar, Narimane</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vankelst%2C+Melvin%22">Vankelst, Melvin</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pérez-Ramos%2C+Alejandro%22">Pérez-Ramos, Alejandro</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pollock%2C+Tahlia+I%2E%22">Pollock, Tahlia I.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tamagnini%2C+Davide%22">Tamagnini, Davide</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Michaud%2C+Margot%22">Michaud, Margot</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Raskin%2C+Levi+Yoder%22">Raskin, Levi Yoder</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tseng%2C+Z%2E+Jack%22">Tseng, Z. Jack</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Science%22">Science</searchLink>. 7/16/2026, Vol. 393 Issue 6808, p265-271. 7p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Molars%22">Molars</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predatory+animals%22">Predatory animals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phylogeny%22">Phylogeny</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mammal+evolution%22">Mammal evolution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dentistry%22">Dentistry</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: 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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  Data: <i>Copyright of Science is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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              Text: 7/16/2026
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