More traditional canine teeth reidentified as premolars, now in odontocete ancestors
Earlier
we looked at sharp, canine-like premolars in the bushy-tailed opossum, Glironia and relatives (Fig 1) replacing lost canines in the Placentalia 2 clade that ultimately produced rodents, multituberculates and odontocetes in the LRT.
Figure 2. Above: Dromiciops skull and tooth row (right rotated). Below: Glironia skull and tooth row (right, rotated).
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/glironia_venusta588-2.jpg?w=163″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/glironia_venusta588-2.jpg?w=558″ class=”size-full wp-image-88629″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/glironia_venusta588-2.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. Above: Dromiciops skull and tooth row (right rotated). Below: Glironia skull and tooth row (right, rotated).” width=”584″ height=”1073″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/glironia_venusta588-2.jpg?w=584&h=1073 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/glironia_venusta588-2.jpg?w=82&h=150 82w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/glironia_venusta588-2.jpg?w=163&h=300 163w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/glironia_venusta588-2.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Above: Dromiciops skull and tooth row (right rotated). Below: Glironia skull and tooth row (right, rotated).
Today,
based on phylogenetic analysis in the large reptile tree (LRT, 2338 taxa) several taxa that seem to have canines (Figs 2, 3) must likewise have lost their canines and replaced them with simple sharp premolars – ultimately with indistinguishable single roots.
This is how the anterior maxillary teeth are now scored for these taxa in the LRT.
Figure 2. Echinosorex, Deinogalerix and Tenrec show the evolution of double-rooted canine-like (in shape and position) premolars to single-rooted even more canine-like premolars.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/echinosorex_and_kin588.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/echinosorex_and_kin588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-92719″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/echinosorex_and_kin588.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. Echinosorex, Deinogalerix and Tenrec show the evolution of double-rooted canine-like (in shape and position) premolars to single-rooted even more canine-like premolars.” width=”584″ height=”586″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/echinosorex_and_kin588.jpg?w=584&h=586 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/echinosorex_and_kin588.jpg?w=150&h=150 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/echinosorex_and_kin588.jpg?w=300&h=300 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/echinosorex_and_kin588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. Echinosorex, Deinogalerix and Tenrec show the evolution of double-rooted canine-like (in shape and position) premolars to single-rooted even more canine-like premolars.
This resolves earlier phylogenetic problems.
This is one reason why mammals have been so difficult to score in this and prior trait-analyses. Some teeth that look like canines are not canines. You can’t tell my shape or position. Instead you have to have an understanding of their ancestry.
Mammal studies must include
marsupials and placentals. They are intertwined with three origins of the Placentalia arising from various marsupials.
Placentalia is not a monophyletic clade in the LRT.
Figure 3. Tenrec and the walking whale Maicetus with former canines now colored cyan to reflect their new premolar identity.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tenrec-maiacetus588.jpg?w=242″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tenrec-maiacetus588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-92721″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tenrec-maiacetus588.jpg” alt=”Figure 3. Tenrec and the walking whale Maicetus with former canines now colored cyan to reflect their new premolar identity. ” width=”584″ height=”724″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tenrec-maiacetus588.jpg?w=584&h=724 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tenrec-maiacetus588.jpg?w=121&h=150 121w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tenrec-maiacetus588.jpg?w=242&h=300 242w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/tenrec-maiacetus588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 3. Tenrec and the walking whale Maicetus with former canines now colored cyan to reflect their new premolar identity. For more information, google: ‘Triple origin of whales’ online.
Genomes are of no use
in understanding this transformation. In your own phylogenetic studies, forego genomics and rely only on phenomics = trait-based analysis.
Fossils are too important to omit.
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2025/05/05/more-traditional-canine-teeth-reidentified-as-premolars-now-in-odontocete-ancestors/
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