heterodontinen
The term *heterodontinen* refers to organisms, particularly vertebrates, that possess teeth of different shapes and sizes. This characteristic distinguishes them from *homodont* species, which have teeth that are uniformly structured throughout their mouths. The term originates from the Greek words *heteros* (meaning "different") and *odous* (meaning "tooth").
Heterodont dentition is most prominently observed in mammals, where teeth serve specialized functions such as cutting,
In addition to mammals, some reptiles and fish exhibit heterodont dentition. For instance, sharks possess multiple
The evolution of heterodont dentition is believed to have provided significant advantages in terms of feeding