What material covered the numerous enamel plates of the mammoth's low-crowned molars?
Answer
A thin layer of cementum
The efficiency of the mammoth's grinding mechanism relied on the precise composition of its molars. While the grinding action itself was performed by the hard enamel plates, these plates were overlaid with a thin layer of cementum. This cementum covered the plates, contributing to the creation of a hard, uneven surface essential for breaking down fibrous grasses. As the tooth wore down from constant friction against silica-rich vegetation, the exposed enamel ridges acted like a continuously sharpening millstone, a process aided by the surrounding cementum layer.
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