The positions of tooth features are described along four directions: mesial (forwards, towards the chin), distal (backwards, towards the jaw joint), lingual (inwards, towards the tongue), and buccal or labial (outwards, towards the cheek).
Therians (marsupials and placentals) ancestrally have roughly triangular upper molars, with the apex pointing lingually (inwards) and the flat edge positioned labially (outwards). This fundamental three-pointed structure is sometimes called the trigon. Three major cusps are almost always present:
Therians ancestrally have lower molars which are longer from front-to-back than from side-to-side. Five to six cusps are most common. The trigonid region at the front part of the molar is triangular, with three large cusps:
The talonid region at the rear part of the molar has two to three relatively small cusps which define the rear rim of a low basin:
These are a list of tooth features identified in the rodent family Cricetidae (hamsters, voles, New World mice and rats, etc.). Source:
Osborn, Henry Fairfield, 1857–1935. (1907). Evolution of mammalian molar teeth to and from the triangular type: including collected and revised researches on trituberculy, and new sections on the forms and homologies of the molar teeth in the different orders of mammals. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4368-4090-3. OCLC 810943856.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) 978-1-4368-4090-3
MacCord, Katherine (2017). Development, evolution, and teeth: how we came to explain the morphological evolution of the mammalian dentition. Arizona State University.
Szalay, Frederick S. (1969). "Mixodectidae, Microsyopidae, and the insectivore-primate transition". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 140 4: 193–330. hdl:2246/1130. /wiki/Hdl_(identifier)
Osborn, Henry Fairfield, 1857–1935. (1907). Evolution of mammalian molar teeth to and from the triangular type: including collected and revised researches on trituberculy, and new sections on the forms and homologies of the molar teeth in the different orders of mammals. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4368-4090-3. OCLC 810943856.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) 978-1-4368-4090-3
MacCord, Katherine (2017). Development, evolution, and teeth: how we came to explain the morphological evolution of the mammalian dentition. Arizona State University.
Hunter, J P; Jernvall, J (7 November 1995). "The hypocone as a key innovation in mammalian evolution". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 92 (23): 10718–10722. Bibcode:1995PNAS...9210718H. doi:10.1073/pnas.92.23.10718. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 40683. PMID 7479871. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC40683
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Reig, Osvaldo A. (2009). "A proposed unified nomenclature for the enamelled components of the molar teeth of the Cricetidae (Rodentia)". Journal of Zoology. 181 (2): 227–241. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1977.tb03238.x. ISSN 0952-8369. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)