Heterodont

Quick meaning: Heterodont is an adjective meaning (zootomy) Having teeth of different types (like most mammals).

Meaning

(zootomy) Having teeth of different types (like most mammals).

More Meanings

1. (zoology) A heterodont animal.
2. A snake of the genus Heterodon which is native to North America.
3. (malacology) Of bivalves or their hinge teeth: having two to three wedge-shaped cardinal teeth set in the centre near the umbones, generally also with elongated lateral teeth on the anterior and posterior margins.

Example Sentences

Mammalian teeth are characteristically heterodont, i.e. teeth are dissimilar in shape and size.

"On the Homologies and Notation of the Teeth of Mammalia," by W[illiam] H[enry] Flower, F.R.S. […] The classification and special homologies of the teeth of the heterodont mammals was next discussed.

[I]n many heterodont forms the teeth at the anterior end of the series of premolars and molars are small teeth, standing to the teeth behind them as the first terms of a series more or less regularly progressing in size.

The first cetaceans were heterodont and had multicusped cheek teeth. […] The earliest odontocetes were heterodont, and the earliest mysticetes retained teeth[…], though vascular grooves on their palates suggest baleen too[…].

Word Forms

• heterodonts

Antonyms for heterodont

Common opposites include homodont.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include dentition, heterodactyl, isodont, anisodont, opisthodont, heterodactylous.

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