Re: A question about tooth enamel and drawing dietary conclusions

[Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au>]

nooj writes: 

> As I understand it, examining the thickness of the tooth enamel and
> the shape of the teeth tells scientists the likely diet of that
> animal. But what if the environment or food source changed so quickly
> that evolution shaping the teeth to suit the food source lags behind?
> Then we have a disparity between what the animal actually eats and
> what the teeth say they should eat. 
>
> How do scientists work this problem out?

I imagine they can't for extinct species. 

Dietry changes don't even have to be that rapid. Take giant pandas for 
example. Their dentition doesn't exactly scream 'specialised bamboo eater'. 
If we only knew them from fossil remains (and only from cranial material), 
who would guess their 'true' dietry preferences? 

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Dann Pigdon
GIS / Archaeologist         http://www.geocities.com/dannsdinosaurs
Melbourne, Australia        http://heretichides.soffiles.com
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