TOOTH STRUCTURE IN Rhizodus hibberti AG., A RHIPIDISTIAN FISH

Date
1968
Authors
Cruickshank, A. R. I.
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BERNARD PRICE INSTITUTE FOR PALAEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Abstract
The structure of the large laniary teeth of the Lower Carboniferous rhipidistian fish Rhizodu hibberti Ag. is interpreted in terms of a new theory of tooth development. The structure of these teeth is found to correspond almost exactly to that of the synchronomorial scale as defined by Orvig (1951) and Stensio (1961; 1962). These labyrinthodont teeth are thus shown to be composed of many tooth primordia, and are not a single unit of dentine. Some isolated Rhizodus teeth are described in which the entire labyrinthodont structure is missing, leaving an empty space inside the tooth. From this, a non-mechanical tooth removal mechanism is postulated.
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