2.6 inch Auriculatus compared Angustidens

I know these are chronospecies but I think most would agree (or at least some would) that these are two decent examples of a C. auriculatus (left) and C. angustidens (right). Whether or not you are a lumper (ie. don't want chronospecies subclassified) or a splitter (ie. want every possible variation named), or somewhere in between, I think the evolutionary process here is pretty darn cool to see. I am not expert but I find the most noticeable differences to be the obvious cusp size (larger and slightly pointed outward in many auriculatus) and smaller in angistidens. The root lobes are also usually different shapes, with the auriculatus, showing more bulbous and rounded ends (left) compared to thinner and more pointed/angulated ends of the angustidens (right). Some of the earlier auriculatus roots are so rounded and bulbous that the tooth can standup on the root, a feature not seen in angustidens or late transitional teeth.