A toothcomb is a
dental structure most commonly known in lemuriform
primates (which includes
lemurs and
lorisoids). Similar dental structures can be found in other mammals, such as
colugos,
treeshrews, and some African
antelopes, but these structures
evolved independently through
convergent evolution. Toothcombs vary in dental composition and structure. The toothcomb of lemuriform primates include
incisors and
canine teeth that tilt forward at the front of the lower jaw, followed by a canine-shaped first
premolar. The toothcombs in other animals usually have incisors only. The comb is formed by fine spaces between the teeth, although in colugos the individual incisors are serrated, providing multiple
tines per tooth. The toothcomb is kept clean by either the tongue or, in the case of lemuriforms, the
sublingua, a specialized "under-tongue". The toothcomb is usually used for
grooming. While licking the fur clean, the animal will run the toothcomb through the fur to comb it. Fine grooves or striations are usually cut into the teeth during grooming by the hair and may be seen on the sides of the teeth when viewed through a
scanning electron microscope. (
more...)
Anticipating violent reactions to a series of cartoons depicting
Muhammad in the magazine Charlie Hebdo,
France announces plans to temporarily close its embassies in 20 Muslim countries.
Pieces of
sublimeddendriticlutetium, including a 1 cm3remelted cube. Lutetium is a hard, silvery-white
rare earth metal which was discovered as an impurity in the mineral
ytterbia. It is rare and expensive, and has few specific uses.
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