Homologies of the toothcomb

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Abstract
A recently described juvenile specimen of Avahi was supposed to show that indriines have an unreplaced deciduous canine and that the indriine toothcomb was composed only of incisors. To the contrary, this specimen demonstrates quite dramatically a growth phenomenon earlier discussed: in indriines, the anteriormost of the four deciduous lower teeth posterior to the toothcomb migrates mesially toward the toothcomb (Schwartz, '74). In this particular Avahi, this tooth has even become associated with the toothcomb. The alignment of this tooth with the toothcomb is a strictly impermanent situation and cannot be taken into consideration when determining homologies of the teeth of the toothcomb. Morphologically and developmentally the lateral teeth of both indriine and lemur and loris toothcombs are similar to each other and distinct from the central set of teeth. Thus, if the lateral teeth of the lemur/loris toothcomb are canines, then the lateral teeth of the indriine toothcomb are canines as well.

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