Tooth replacement of the filter-feeding pterosaur Forfexopterus and its implications for ecological adaptation
Abstract A “comb-dentition”, characterized by long, needle-like, and closely-spaced teeth, is found in the ctenochasmatid pterosaurs as an adaptation for filter-feeding. However, little is known about their tooth replacement pattern, hindering our understanding of the development of the filter-feedi...
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Academia Brasileira de Ciências
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências |
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| _version_ | 1832542266971914240 |
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| author | CHANG-FU ZHOU FENGMIN FAN |
| author_facet | CHANG-FU ZHOU FENGMIN FAN |
| author_sort | CHANG-FU ZHOU |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A “comb-dentition”, characterized by long, needle-like, and closely-spaced teeth, is found in the ctenochasmatid pterosaurs as an adaptation for filter-feeding. However, little is known about their tooth replacement pattern, hindering our understanding of the development of the filter-feeding apparatus of the clade. Here, we describe the tooth replacement of the pterosaur Forfexopterus from the Jehol Biota based on high-resolution X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) reconstruction. As in the ornithocheirid Coloborhynchus, the tooth germs are relatively medially positioned along the middle line; the replacement teeth erupt at the posteromedial side of the functional tooth; no more than one replacement tooth present in each alveolus. The replacement teeth are less than half of the length of the full-grown tooth, and alternatively positioned along the tooth row. The alternatively-positioned young and mature functional teeth are dominant and abrased, maintaining the active tooth-tooth occlusion of the filter-feeding apparatus. Reconstruction of Zahnreihen shows an average Z-spacing of 2.02, comparable to that of the simple alternate replacement (Z-spacing = 2) between odd- and even-numbered tooth positions in reptiles. Based on comparisons with Balaenognathus, Ctenochasma, and Pterodaustro, the tooth replacement pattern appears to be varied in ctenochasmatids, and needs to be further studied in the future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cf4681bd7bcb4ee1a7935aa8755eac06 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1678-2690 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Academia Brasileira de Ciências |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências |
| spelling | doaj-art-cf4681bd7bcb4ee1a7935aa8755eac062025-02-04T07:37:54ZengAcademia Brasileira de CiênciasAnais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências1678-26902025-01-0197suppl 110.1590/0001-3765202520240673Tooth replacement of the filter-feeding pterosaur Forfexopterus and its implications for ecological adaptationCHANG-FU ZHOUhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3744-7573FENGMIN FANhttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-4487-6250Abstract A “comb-dentition”, characterized by long, needle-like, and closely-spaced teeth, is found in the ctenochasmatid pterosaurs as an adaptation for filter-feeding. However, little is known about their tooth replacement pattern, hindering our understanding of the development of the filter-feeding apparatus of the clade. Here, we describe the tooth replacement of the pterosaur Forfexopterus from the Jehol Biota based on high-resolution X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) reconstruction. As in the ornithocheirid Coloborhynchus, the tooth germs are relatively medially positioned along the middle line; the replacement teeth erupt at the posteromedial side of the functional tooth; no more than one replacement tooth present in each alveolus. The replacement teeth are less than half of the length of the full-grown tooth, and alternatively positioned along the tooth row. The alternatively-positioned young and mature functional teeth are dominant and abrased, maintaining the active tooth-tooth occlusion of the filter-feeding apparatus. Reconstruction of Zahnreihen shows an average Z-spacing of 2.02, comparable to that of the simple alternate replacement (Z-spacing = 2) between odd- and even-numbered tooth positions in reptiles. Based on comparisons with Balaenognathus, Ctenochasma, and Pterodaustro, the tooth replacement pattern appears to be varied in ctenochasmatids, and needs to be further studied in the future.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652025001001201&lng=en&tlng=enCtenochasmatidaefilter-feedingCT scantooth replacementJehol Biota |
| spellingShingle | CHANG-FU ZHOU FENGMIN FAN Tooth replacement of the filter-feeding pterosaur Forfexopterus and its implications for ecological adaptation Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Ctenochasmatidae filter-feeding CT scan tooth replacement Jehol Biota |
| title | Tooth replacement of the filter-feeding pterosaur Forfexopterus and its implications for ecological adaptation |
| title_full | Tooth replacement of the filter-feeding pterosaur Forfexopterus and its implications for ecological adaptation |
| title_fullStr | Tooth replacement of the filter-feeding pterosaur Forfexopterus and its implications for ecological adaptation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tooth replacement of the filter-feeding pterosaur Forfexopterus and its implications for ecological adaptation |
| title_short | Tooth replacement of the filter-feeding pterosaur Forfexopterus and its implications for ecological adaptation |
| title_sort | tooth replacement of the filter feeding pterosaur forfexopterus and its implications for ecological adaptation |
| topic | Ctenochasmatidae filter-feeding CT scan tooth replacement Jehol Biota |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652025001001201&lng=en&tlng=en |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT changfuzhou toothreplacementofthefilterfeedingpterosaurforfexopterusanditsimplicationsforecologicaladaptation AT fengminfan toothreplacementofthefilterfeedingpterosaurforfexopterusanditsimplicationsforecologicaladaptation |