dysodus

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A generic name bestowed by Cope upon the Japanese pug-dog, called Dysodus pravus, characterized by such degradation of the dentition that there may be in all but 16 teeth (no incisors, 1 canine in each half-jaw, 1 premolar and 1 molar in each upper, and 2 premolars and 2 molars in each lower half-jaw), thus exemplifying actual evolution of a generic form by “artificial selection” of comparatively few years' duration.