Canadian researchers have announced that they have identified the oldest case of tooth decay ever recorded in a mammal.

A cavity due to an infection of this type has indeed been discovered on the fossilized remains of a tooth of a primate 54 million years old.

The animal was a Microsyops latidens, specifies the study on the subject published this Thursday in

Scientific Reports

and relayed by

Geo

.

It is a creature the size of a squirrel and living in trees.

Researchers uncovered decay by closely studying the 1,030 tooth and jaw fossils found during archaeological excavations at the Bighorn site in Wyoming (United States).

In addition to the exceptional age of the infection, scientists were marked by the number of cavities identified in the dentitions screened.

Scientists have discovered the first cases of #tooth decay in a primate that lived 54 million years ago #history 🦷https: //t.co/J6jorpb08q

- GEO Magazine (@GEOfr) September 10, 2021

Strong presence of fruits and other sweet elements in their diet

They found that 7.48% of individuals presented with dental caries. The figure even climbed to 17.24% during a specific time interval. Expert observations have shown the effects of animal diets on their dental health. The prevalence of caries is thus partly explained by the strong presence of fruits and other sweet elements in the food of these mammals.

The period during which the caries rate increased would correspond to a temporary change in diet involving an even greater consumption of fruits and sugary foods.

The researchers therefore deduced that the eating habits of Microsyops latidens had changed over time.

They estimated that climate change may have altered vegetation and the availability of certain foods.

"Cavities provide […] insight into important facets of an individual's life, such as diet and health," explained the study's authors.

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