A Quantitative Study of Stasigenesis in Fissipede Carnivores

Abstract

IN the course of quantitative evolutionary studies on the dentition of fissipede carnivores we¹ have recently published a paper utilizing two angular measurements, α measuring the relation of protoconid height and talonid length in lower M₁ and β the relation between total length and protocone height in upper P₄. Graphic representation on Cartesian co-ordinates of the two values thus obtained for a number of species shows that the relative position of the values of α and β has an important biological significance, since it reveals the general phylogenetic tendencies of the group and its constituent sub-groups, and is in close agreement with the qualitative findings of taxonomy.