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The stem osteichthyan Andreolepis and the origin of tooth replacement

Author

Listed:
  • Donglei Chen

    (Uppsala University)

  • Henning Blom

    (Uppsala University)

  • Sophie Sanchez

    (Science for Life Laboratory and Uppsala University
    European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 6 rue Jules Horowitz)

  • Paul Tafforeau

    (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 6 rue Jules Horowitz)

  • Per E. Ahlberg

    (Science for Life Laboratory and Uppsala University)

Abstract

The teeth of gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) show rigidly patterned, unidirectional replacement that may or may not be associated with a shedding mechanism. These mechanisms, which are critical for the maintenance of the dentition, are incongruently distributed among extant gnathostomes. Although a permanent tooth-generating dental lamina is present in all chondrichthyans, many tetrapods and some teleosts, it is absent in the non-teleost actinopterygians. Tooth-shedding by basal hard tissue resorption occurs in most osteichthyans (including tetrapods) but not in chondrichthyans. Here we report a three-dimensional virtual dissection of the dentition of a 424-million-year-old stem osteichthyan, Andreolepis hedei, using propagation phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography, with a reconstruction of its growth history. Andreolepis, close to the common ancestor of all extant osteichthyans, shed its teeth by basal resorption but probably lacked a permanent dental lamina. This is the earliest documented instance of resorptive tooth shedding and may represent the primitive osteichthyan mode of tooth replacement.

Suggested Citation

  • Donglei Chen & Henning Blom & Sophie Sanchez & Paul Tafforeau & Per E. Ahlberg, 2016. "The stem osteichthyan Andreolepis and the origin of tooth replacement," Nature, Nature, vol. 539(7628), pages 237-241, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:539:y:2016:i:7628:d:10.1038_nature19812
    DOI: 10.1038/nature19812
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