Presenter: Kendra Walters
Co-Presenters: Meaghan Emery
Mentor: Edward Davis
Poster: 33
Major: Geology/Biology
Oreodonts lived in North America during the Cenozoic Era and were especially abundant from the Eocene to Miocene Epochs. Despite their abundance, they have no modern descendants. The dentition of fossil oreodonts is often well preserved, including deciduous or “baby” teeth. In order to understand more about oreodont behavior and development, our research examines the tooth eruption sequence for juvenile Eporeodon occidentalis. Tooth eruption sequences differ among groups of animals and reflect their specific life history patterns, including time of weaning and overall lifespan. We created 3D models of the crania of juvenile Eporeodon occidentalis individuals using Agisoft PhotoScan, and examined these models to stitch together the eruption sequence. Interestingly, the eruption sequence showed only the permanent first premolar which means the deciduous first premolar either did not exist or fell out extremely early, possibly before birth. This is a unique feature shared with pigs which may be evidence of a close relationship, similar behaviors, or similar life histories. By comparing the tooth eruption sequences of Eporeodon occidentalis and modern species such as pigs, camels, and sheep, I was able to infer possible life history patterns of Eporeodon occidentalis from known life history patterns of the modern species. In the future, this tooth eruption sequence will be compared to that of other oreodonts to evaluate differences and similarities in behavior, phylogeny, and life histories.