Mammals: evolution and dental nomenclature

Abstract

Taking into account the vital importance of the morphology and dental nomenclature for systematic studies in mammals (about evolution and classification), and given the limited availability of free bibliographic sources updated on this issue, we conducted this review with the aim that it can be a ba-sic textbook for courses in mammalogy and vertebrate zoology. Furthermore, in order to design paleontological, archaeological and forensic studies, this review helps to make connections between biology and other professions such as dentistry. For these reasons we make a short revision of the distinguishing characteristics of mammals and review the main aspects about their teeth, such as their evolution, anatomy, nomenclature and dental formulas so that with all this background, some conclusions can be made.