What characteristic dental feature unites the water vole with Order Rodentia?
Answer
A single, continuously growing pair of upper and lower incisor teeth
Order Rodentia is the largest order of mammals, unified almost universally by a highly specialized and distinctive dental pattern. This pattern involves having only one pair of incisors in both the upper and lower jaws, and critically, these incisors exhibit continuous growth throughout the animal's life. Because they grow constantly, rodents must continually gnaw on hard materials, such as roots, bark, or seeds, to wear down the enamel and dentin at appropriate rates, preventing the teeth from growing so long as to impede eating or breathing. This defining feature is what connects the water vole taxonomically to a diverse group including mice, squirrels, and beavers.
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