Microevolutionary trends in the dentition of the Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Microevolutionary trends in dental traits were studied in a Polish population of the Red fox, Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758). Changes in qualitative and quantitative traits over a 70-year interval were analysed in 1453 museum specimens collected between 1927 and 1996. Over that period, there were qualitative trends towards increasing complication of occlusal crown surface in posterior premolars (i.e. P-4, P-3, P-4) and I-3. Other cheek teeth did not undergo directional change. Changes in trait correlations were assessed using samples from the 1960s and 1990s. The correlations between C-1 -C-1 and M-1-M-2 increased, while correlation values in the incisor region (I-1-I-2, I-1-I-1, I-1-I-2, I-3-I-2), carnassial region (P-4-M-1, P-4-M-1 and M-1-M-1) and in P-2-P-1 decreased. These changes may be related to increasing dietary opportunism of the Red fox during the 20th century.