Sat, Mar-11-06, 14:21
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Slothy Superhero
Posts: 12,159
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Plan: Vegetarian Atkins
Stats: 165/145/125
BF:29/25.2/24
Progress: 50%
Location: Tennessee/Iowa
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Originally Posted by theBear
Humans have classic insectivorous dentition. We have no 'grinding' molars like bovines. Our molars are bug-crushing, cannot grow, have unsealed groves which quickly admit bacteria, and thus cannot tolerate abrasion and carbohydrates- they wear away and rot. SOME carnivores need and have shearing teeth, (carnassals), Many animals both carnivores and omnivores as well as some frogs(!) and a deer- have long canines (tusks)- these are used always as display and fighting with some utility as holding tools. We have mouths for speech, and tusks are of no aid when you have knives.
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No, we don't. Insectivores and carnivores have sharp cresty molars and small incisors. You can say what you want, but I have NEVER seen human dentition described as "classically insectivorous". In fact our dentition is considered generalized in order to be able to consume different kinds of foods.
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache...d=12&lr=lang_en
For various views of human dentition: http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/faculty/wa...nDentition.html
I have no idea what you are doing discussing tusks. Our ancestors didn't have them.
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Originally Posted by theBear
Humans make and use knives- and have done so for ~4.5 million years. Enamel meant to wear grows continuously and is shaped in rolls, the layers separated by dentine, such as all ruminants have. Compared to rats and pigs, our teeth have a very thin and fragile enamel coat. Apes are very distant relations, and their teeth are not a good comparison. I am very well educated on anatomy and comparative anatomy. I am not telling stories, and I did not intend to teach ancient diets and I do not intend to lecture the group on body structures and purposes, but I do feel from time to time a need to clear up widespread misunderstandings of structure.
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No problems with the above. I am not talking about ancient diets, I am just trying to clear up some misconceptions you have about human dentition.
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Originally Posted by theBear
Where have you been? Gorillas proved sterile in captivity when fed on a total herbivorous diet- It was then discovered that in the wild they consume quantities of insects, principally wood-grubs and their massive back musculature is a specialisation to assist pulling the bark from trees to get at the bugs. Once the nature of the animal food acceptable to gorillas was known, zoos have been able properly feed, and to breed them successfully. With as many papers and studies on chimpanzee hunting/gathering behaviour, I am astounded that you do not understand their dietary habits. Then again, what gorillas and chimps eat is not relevant to human diet, which is what my thread is all about.
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Interesting. I hadn't heard the gorilla insect/grub thing. I am going to go look that up now. If you have any references, I would like to read them. |