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Tooth crown morphology in caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona)
Author(s) -
Wake Marvalee H.,
Wurst Gloria Z.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1051590304
Subject(s) - biology , crown (dentistry) , morphology (biology) , cusp (singularity) , tooth crown , anatomy , evolutionary biology , zoology , orthodontics , geometry , medicine , mathematics
The morphology of tooth crowns is variable inter‐specifically among caecilians. Cusp number and shape, crown dimensions, and crown curvature characterize various species and have both functional and phylogenetic implications. Ichthyophis, Uraeotyphlus, Hypogeophis , and Geotrypetes have bicuspid teeth; Dermophis, Gymnopis, Caecilia , and Typhlonectes monocuspid. Crown morphology as revealed by scanning electron microscopy is associated with prey grasping and, in one case, possible specialization of prey type.