Question

Which specific term describes teeth with two ridges, as found in old world-monkey molars?

Answer 1

Teeth with two ridges found in Old World monkey molars are described as 'bilophodont.' This distinctive feature of the molars in Cercopithecoidea aids in processing their omnivorous diet.

Step-by-step explanation:

The specific term that describes teeth with two ridges, as found in Old World monkey molars, is “bilophodont.” This term refers to the most distinctive feature of the molars belonging to the Cercopithecoidea, a group within the Catarrhini which includes Old World monkeys. These molars exhibit two parallel ridges that are adapted for their omnivorous diet, which often includes a variety of fruits and leaves.

Within the Phylum Chordata, specifically among the class Mammalia, Old World monkeys have adapted these bilophodont molars for processing different kinds of foods, efficiently crushing and grinding their food for digestion. Understanding the dental structures of primates like Old World monkeys aids in the study of their dietary habits and evolutionary history.

Answer 2

Old-world monkeys had specifically shaped molars, which are called bilophodont molars. Molars are big teeth in the back of the mouth that are used for grinding food and crushing it into small pieces that are easier to digest. They are very diverse in regards to size and shape in different groups of mammals.

The old-world monkeys had molars with two transverse ridges, so the name bilophodont broken down is "bi" which means "two", and "loph" which means "ridge", while "dont" of course means "tooth". So the name "bilophodont" refers to a tooth that has two ridges.