Vertebrate Zoology 59(2): 191-195, doi:

Variation and complexity of the enamel pattern in the first lower molar of the Field vole, Microtus agrestis (L., 1761) (Mammalia: Rodentia: Arvicolinae)

Hans-Jürgen Kapischke, Richard Kraft, MATTHIAS Jentzsch, MICHAEL Hiermeier

Corresponding author: Hans-Jürgen Kapischke ( kapis@t-online.de )

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Citation: Kapischke H-J, Kraft R, Jentzsch M, Hiermeier M (2009) Variation and complexity of the enamel pattern in the first lower molar of the Field vole, Microtus agrestis (L., 1761) (Mammalia: Rodentia: Arvicolinae). Vertebrate Zoology 59(2): 191-195

Abstract

The variation in complexity of the lower fi rst molar, M1, of the Field vole, Microtus agrestis, is investigated. Two possible routes towards increased complexity are described and are depicted schematically. It is concluded, that increased tooth complexity enhances masticatory effi ciency.

Keywords

Arvicolinae, Microtus agrestis, dental morphology, enamel pattern, tooth complexity, masticatory effi ciency.