What adaptation contrasts the bone processing strategy of *E. haydeni* with most modern canids?
Answer
Modern canids focus on slicing through flesh and shearing hide
The fundamental difference in dietary strategy lies in dental function. *Epicyon haydeni*'s specialized dentition—thick, blunt cheek teeth—was optimized for processing hard bone to gain access to marrow. In sharp contrast, most modern canids possess dental structures, such as shearing carnassials, that are principally designed for slicing through muscle tissue and tearing hide. While a modern wolf might break a very small bone, the specialization of *E. haydeni* points to accessing dense caloric resources within large bones as a routine necessity, unlike the flesh-ripping generalism of its descendants.
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