selenodont

American  

[si-lee-nuh-dont] / sɪˈli nəˌdɒnt /

adjective

1. having molar teeth with crowns formed of crescent-shaped cusps.

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selenodont British  

/ sɪˈliːnəˌdɒnt /

adjective

1. (of the teeth of certain mammals) having crescent-shaped ridges on the crowns, as in deer

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noun

1. a mammal with selenodont teeth

Other Word Forms

• selenodonty noun

Etymology

Origin of selenodont

First recorded in 1880–85; selen(o)- + -odont

Example Sentences

Selenodont, sē-lē′nō-dont, adj. having crescentic ridges on the crown, as molar teeth.

From Project Gutenberg

It is noteworthy, however, that in some instances there appears to have been a retrograde modification from the selenodont towards the bunodont type, the hippopotamus being a case in point.

From Project Gutenberg

The cheek-teeth are selenodont, and one pair of upper incisors is retained, while some of the anterior premolars assume a canine-like shape, and are separated from the rest of the cheek-series.

From Project Gutenberg

The cheek-teeth are selenodont, Tragulina. as in the two preceding groups; there are no upper incisors, but there are long, narrow and pointed upper canines, which attain a large size in the males; the lower canines are incisor-like, as in the Pecora, and there are no caniniform premolars in either jaw.

From Project Gutenberg

The upper molars, which may be either selenodont or buno-selenodont, carry five cusps each, instead of the four characteristic of all the preceding groups; and they are all very low-crowned, so as to expose the whole of the valleys between the cusps.

From Project Gutenberg