phylodontology
Phylodontology is a proposed field of study that centers on the relationship between dental morphology and evolutionary history. The term combines phylo- or phylon, relating to lineage and evolutionary relationships, with odontology, the study of teeth. In this view, tooth form, development, and dentition architecture are treated as informative characters for understanding how species are related and how their feeding systems evolved.
Overview and methods: Phylodontology analyzes dental traits as data points in phylogenetic analyses, seeking to distinguish
Applications: The field aims to reconstruct phylogenies for groups where teeth are diagnostic or particularly well-preserved,
Relation to other disciplines: Phylodontology intersects with dental anthropology, vertebrate paleontology, and evolutionary biology. It is
Limitations and challenges: Dental homoplasy, convergence, and limited or fragmentary fossil material pose challenges. Ontogenetic changes