What dental features physically support the capuchin's ability to process nuts?
Answer
Square-shaped molars with thick enamel
The diverse diet of the white-faced capuchin, which includes tough items such as nuts and the shells of mollusks like clams, necessitates specific physical adaptations in their dentition. The morphology of their cheek teeth is specialized for crushing and grinding hard materials rather than just slicing soft pulp. This adaptation is characterized by possessing large premolars combined with square-shaped molars. Critically, these molars are reinforced with thick enamel, providing the necessary hardness and resistance to wear required to successfully process and consume food items that would shatter or rapidly erode the teeth of other primates.
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