lophodont

Lophodont is a term in mammalian dental morphology used to describe the pattern of enamel ridges on the molars and premolars of many herbivorous mammals. The name derives from the Latin roots loph- meaning crest and odont- meaning tooth. In lophodont teeth, the occlusal surface is made up of elongated enamel ridges, called lophs, that run transversely across the tooth crown from the buccal (cheek) side to the lingual (tongue) side. These ridges may be connected by dentine structures to form a relatively flat, grinding surface as the tooth wears.

Lophodont dentition is common among various extinct and living herbivores, including elephants and several rodent groups, as well as some ungulates, where the pattern helps maximize grinding efficiency on fibrous vegetation. The arrangement of lophs creates a broad occlusal area that promotes shearing and crushing during chewing.

Lophodont teeth are contrasted with selenodont teeth, which have crescent-shaped ridges running longitudinally along the tooth, and with bunodont teeth, which feature rounded, separate cusps. The presence and arrangement of lophs are used in paleontological and taxonomic descriptions to infer diet and phylogenetic relationships among mammals.

Over time, wear can alter lophodont surfaces, and in some lineages the pattern can become particularly pronounced, leading to descriptions such as loxodont in elephants, where very prominent transverse ridges form a heavy grinding surface.