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Heterodonty and patterns of tooth replacement in Crocodylus niloticus
Author(s) -
Kieser J. A.,
Klapsidis C.,
Law L.,
Marion M.
Publication year - 1993
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.1052180208
Subject(s) - crocodylus , biology , evolutionary biology , zoology , ecology , crocodile
Patterns of tooth replacement in the Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus were evaluated in the lateral radiographs of six dried skulls of 1‐year‐old individuals. Additionally, the ontogeny of the succession of teeth in this species was investigated in four embryos and a hatchling, which were serially sectioned. Three‐dimensional, computer‐generated reconstructions of these individuals suggested that there was a regular pattern of odontogenic progression. Three morphogenetic zones could be identified in each of the age classes: an incisor, a canine, and a molar region. It was thus concluded that the Nile crocodile is hetero‐ rather than homodont. Zahnreihen , or tooth rows, with a periodicity of one were easily identified. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.