Estudo dos dentes de Guaiaquica

Abstract

The guaiquica (Gracilinanus microtarsus), belongs to the family Didelphidae, which is a very important family among marsupials, because in addition to containing many species (like opossums), it represents the model group of marsupials. Marsupial ancestors, from the Cretaceous period, had morphological characteristics very similar to those of today's Neotropical skunks. For this reason, their reproductive adaptations are considered directly related to primitive marsupials, and this similarity is of great interest for the comparative study of their biology. The teeth together with the gums, the temporomandibular and symphysial joints of the jaws, and also the masticatory muscles, constitute the masticatory apparatus. This work aims at the morphological characterization of the teeth of guaiquica for a better understanding of evolutionary aspects related to marsupials and other mammals.