bunodont tooth

Also known as: bunodont teeth

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

A bunodont tooth is a type of mammalian molar characterized by low, rounded cusps. This dental structure is typically found in omnivorous mammals, such as pigs and humans. These teeth are well-suited for a varied diet, allowing for both tearing and grinding of food.1

The term "bunodont" comes from Greek roots meaning "mound" and "tooth," referring to the shape of the cusps. This contrasts with other tooth types like selendont teeth, which have crescent-shaped cusps, or lophodont teeth, which feature transverse ridges.23

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3 Britannica Sources

mammal - Teeth
bunoselenodont
bunolophodont

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mammal
Teeth
…with low, rounded cusps, termed bunodont.
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…with low, rounded cusps, termed bunodont.
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perissodactyl
Teeth
…with separate low, rounded cusps—the bunodont condition. Increasing specialization for grazing resulted in fusion of the cusps into ridges (lophs), thus teeth of this kind are called lophodont. Lower molars typically have two transverse lophs, the protoloph and the metaloph. In the upper molars these ridges are fused with a…
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…with separate low, rounded cusps—the bunodont condition. Increasing specialization for grazing resulted in fusion of the cusps into ridges (lophs), thus teeth of this kind are called lophodont. Lower molars typically have two transverse lophs, the protoloph and the metaloph. In the upper molars these ridges are fused with a…
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