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What is a diastema in the skull of a perissodactyl?
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perissodactyl
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In the skull of a perissodactyl, a diastema is a gap that forms between the incisors and the premolars.1
This space resulted from the evolutionary lengthening of the facial part of the skull. As perissodactyls evolved, they experienced various losses and specializations of their incisors and canines. When canines are present in these mammals, they are typically situated within this diastema, as seen in male horses.1