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Evolution of the power stroke in early Equoidea (Perissodactyla, Mammalia)

Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments volume 99, pages 271–291 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

During the early evolution of Equoidea, two families co-existed, Equidae and Palaeotheriidae. Both groups show a similar ancestral molar morphology and evolved from bunodont to lophodont or selenolophodont (lophodont with crescent-shaped cutting edge in some form) respectively, with a clearly pronounced ectoloph. Fossils of the here studied brachydont equids and palaeotheriids are known from the early Eocene to the middle Miocene in North America and Eurasia. Due to the rich fossil record, dental evolution and related functional shifts can be investigated in detail in each family. In this study, we focused on changes in the different masticatory paths, identified different functions within the power stroke and evaluated the efficiency of the different modes in mastication to correlate tooth morphology to the potential palaeodiets. The analysis is based on three-dimensional (3D) polygonal surface scans, allowing the detailed investigation of morphological features. The results show that primitive equoids possess well-developed cutting and shearing structures, despite being generally referred to as simply bunodont. These structures enable the primitive forms to break down structural plant parts more efficiently than for example Phenacodus (‘condylarth’ outgroup), showing simple rounded cusps, and therefore representing a more primitive type of bunodont dentition. It is general consensus that the diet of the more derived early equoids shifts to a higher percentage of tough plant parts and they adopt different strategies to efficiently comminute those parts. Equids emphasise cutting and shearing both buccally and lingually, trending towards a one-phase power stroke, a pattern resembling that of modern hypsodont Equidae. Our results suggest that the derived brachydont equids specialised to consume leaves rather than grasses. In comparison, derived palaeotheriids mainly emphasise shearing and cutting function buccally and a distinct grinding function in a two-phase power stroke. The combination of different functions suggest a broader diet different from only leaves, likely including twigs or hard fruits.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Wighart von Koenigswald and Thomas Martin for support and advice. We are grateful to all members of the DFG Research Unit 771 for fruitful discussions. We thank the people being in charge for the collections used: D. Bohaska (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Washington D.C), L. Costeur and M. Schneider (Naturhistorisches Museum Basel), J. Galkin (American Museum of Natural History New York), P. Gingerich (University of Michigan), E. Milsom and M. Blume (Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt), K. Rose (Johns Hopkins University Baltimore), G. Rößner (Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie der LMU München), S. Schaal, J. Habersetzer, E. Brahm and M. Ackermann (Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt), R. Schellhorn (Steinmann-Institut, Universität Bonn), S. Shelton (Museum of Geology South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Rapid City), R. Ziegler (Staatliches Naturkunde Museum Stuttgart). We thank Krister T. Smith for his help and suggestions that improved the manuscript. We are deeply grateful to Mikael Fortelius, Christine M. Janis and one anonymous reviewer for their helpful and valuable comments. This is publication no. 99 of the DFG Research Unit 771.

Funding

The project is part of the DFG Research Unit 771 and was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG For771-project D2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt a.M., Abteilung Paläoanthropologie und Messelforschung, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany

    Sandra Engels

  2. Steinmann-Institut für Geologie, Mineralogie und Paläontologie, Universität Bonn, Nussallee 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Sandra Engels & Julia A. Schultz

  3. Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Julia A. Schultz

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  1. Sandra Engels
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Engels, S., Schultz, J.A. Evolution of the power stroke in early Equoidea (Perissodactyla, Mammalia). Palaeobio Palaeoenv 99, 271–291 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-018-0341-4

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Keywords

  • Dentition
  • Molars
  • Horse
  • 3D
  • Power stroke
  • Efficiency
  • Mastication