Andreas Johann Lang

• Dr. rer. nat
• Postdoctoral Reseach Assistant at University of Bonn

Molars of the extant lipotyphlan Solenodon show a zalambdodont crown shape that closely resembles the pretribosphenic condition of Mesozoic stem-Zatheria. In order to reconstruct the mastication cycle, abrasional and attritional wear patterns of the molars of four Solenodon paradoxus specimens were examined and the functional morphology was compare...

The evolution of carnassial teeth in mammals, especially in the Carnivora, has been subject of many morphometric and some dental topographic studies. Here, we use a combination of dental topographic analysis (Dirichlet normal energy) and 3D geometric morphometrics of less and high carnassialized lower teeth of carnivoran, dasyuromorph and hyaenodon...

The carnassial teeth of Carnivora and Dasyuromorphia are characterized by the enlargement of the carnassial blades and reduction of crushing structures. In some species, the highly carnassialized teeth exhibit a unicuspid talonid with only the hypoconid present (“trenchant heel”). This condition is similar to that seen in the molars of pretribosphe...

Three new lower molars of Storchodon cingulatus and a fragmentary upper molar confirm its morganucodontan affinities. Cusps b and c are relatively higher than in Morganucodon, and cusp c is larger than cusp b. Cusp a is asymmetric, with slightly distally recurved tip. All known lower Storchodon molars have a pronounced furcation between the roots o...

Docodon hercynicus sp. nov. from the Upper Jurassic (upper Kimmeridgian) Süntel Formation of the Langenberg Quarry in Lower Saxony is the first docodontan recorded from Central Europe. The two lower molars available are characterised by vertical enamel ridges at the distal flank of cusp a, which are typical for Docodon. This is only the second reco...

Carnassial teeth with slicing function evolved convergently in multiple lineages of carnivorous mammals. A 3D geometric morphometric analysis of lower carnassials of extant Carnivora, Dasyuromorphia and extinct Hyaenodonta suggests besides functional adaptation a possible phylogenetic influence on carnassial shape. The shift between lesser and high...

Due to preservation in occlusion in flattened specimens, the dentition of the proviverrine hyaenodont Lesmesodon from Messel is unadequately known, only from subadult individuals. New µCT-based studies provide now details from lingual, buccal and occlusal aspects of its dentition. This will help to gather information on the ecological niche that Le...

Molar crown curvature of the lower carnassials (m1) of carnivorous mammals was measured as the total Dirichlet Normal Energy (DNE) of the enamel cap. Comparatively high values occur in the mesocarnivorous morphotype, which reflects the ancestral condition for the Carnivora, with a carnassial blade besides a well-developed talonid basin. A diminutio...

The order Carnivora is comprised of a wide variety of taxa, which are adapted to differing amounts of meat intake (hypo-, meso- and hypercarnivores) and show a recurring pattern of convergent evolution of craniodental features, especially in molar morphology, in concurrence with their dietary adaptations. A further tendency of convergent evolution...

The molars of Eutheria are derived from the plesiomorphic tribosphenic pattern. The tribosphenic molar is characterized by a combination of shear-cutting and a crushing and grinding interaction of the upper molarprotocone and the lower molar talonid basin. The power stroke of the chewing movement is divided into two distinct phases separated by cen...