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A conserved tooth resorption mechanism in modern and fossil snakes

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  • A. R. H. LeBlanc

    (University of Alberta
    King’s College London)

  • A. Palci

    (University of Adelaide
    South Australian Museum)

  • N. Anthwal

    (King’s College London)

  • A. S. Tucker

    (King’s College London)

  • R. Araújo

    (Universidade de Lisboa)

  • M. F. C. Pereira

    (Universidade de Lisboa)

  • M. W. Caldwell

    (University of Alberta)

Abstract

Whether snakes evolved their elongated, limbless bodies or their specialized skulls and teeth first is a central question in squamate evolution. Identifying features shared between extant and fossil snakes is therefore key to unraveling the early evolution of this iconic reptile group. One promising candidate is their unusual mode of tooth replacement, whereby teeth are replaced without signs of external tooth resorption. We reveal through histological analysis that the lack of resorption pits in snakes is due to the unusual action of odontoclasts, which resorb dentine from within the pulp of the tooth. Internal tooth resorption is widespread in extant snakes, differs from replacement in other reptiles, and is even detectable via non-destructive μCT scanning, providing a method for identifying fossil snakes. We then detected internal tooth resorption in the fossil snake Yurlunggur, and one of the oldest snake fossils, Portugalophis, suggesting that it is one of the earliest innovations in Pan-Serpentes, likely preceding limb loss.

Suggested Citation

  • A. R. H. LeBlanc & A. Palci & N. Anthwal & A. S. Tucker & R. Araújo & M. F. C. Pereira & M. W. Caldwell, 2023. "A conserved tooth resorption mechanism in modern and fossil snakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36422-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36422-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael W. Caldwell & Randall L. Nydam & Alessandro Palci & Sebastián Apesteguía, 2015. "The oldest known snakes from the Middle Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous provide insights on snake evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-11, May.
    2. Nicholas R. Longrich & Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar & Jacques A. Gauthier, 2012. "A transitional snake from the Late Cretaceous period of North America," Nature, Nature, vol. 488(7410), pages 205-208, August.
    3. Tiago R. Simões & Oksana Vernygora & Michael W. Caldwell & Stephanie E. Pierce, 2020. "Megaevolutionary dynamics and the timing of evolutionary innovation in reptiles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. John D. Scanlon, 2006. "Skull of the large non-macrostomatan snake Yurlunggur from the Australian Oligo-Miocene," Nature, Nature, vol. 439(7078), pages 839-842, February.
    5. Michael W. Caldwell & Michael S. Y. Lee, 1997. "A snake with legs from the marine Cretaceous of the Middle East," Nature, Nature, vol. 386(6626), pages 705-709, April.
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