Schultz's rule is a rule developed by
Adolph Hans Schultz, declaring a relationship between the first
tooth eruption
Tooth eruption is a process in tooth development in which the teeth enter the mouth and become visible. It is currently believed that the periodontal ligament plays an important role in tooth eruption. The first human teeth to appear, the decidu ...
of the
molar versus the permanent teeth and the progress or aging of its carrier. It states that species that live longer have more wear on
deciduous teeth
Deciduous teeth or primary teeth, also informally known as baby teeth, milk teeth, or temporary teeth,Fehrenbach, MJ and Popowics, T. (2026). ''Illustrated Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy'', 6th edition, Elsevier, page 287–296. are ...
and as a result start replacing them relatively early in life. Which is an indicator for examining fossil data. According to research, ''
Myotragus balearicus'' follows Schultz's Rule.
See also
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Diphyodont
A diphyodont is any animal with two sets of teeth, initially the ''deciduous'' set and consecutively the '' permanent'' set. Most mammals are diphyodonts—as to chew their food they need a strong, durable and complete set of teeth.
Diphyodonts ...
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Polyphyodont
A polyphyodont is any animal whose tooth (animal), teeth are continually replaced. In contrast, diphyodonts are characterized by having only two successive sets of teeth.
Polyphyodonts include most toothed fishes (most notably sharks), many repti ...
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Tooth development
A tooth (: teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, teari ...
References
Further reading
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Tooth development
Animal anatomy
Paleontological concepts and hypotheses
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