Tooth loss and alveolar remodeling in Sinosaurus triassicus (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the lower jurassic strata of the Lufeng Basin, China

LiDa Xing; Phil R. Bell; Bruce M. Rothschild; Hao Ran; JianPing Zhang; ZhiMing Dong; Wei Zhang; Philip J. Currie

doi:10.1007/s11434-013-5765-7

Chinese Science Bulletin

June 2013, Volume 58, Issue 16, pp 1931–1935

Tooth loss and alveolar remodeling in Sinosaurus triassicus (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the lower jurassic strata of the Lufeng Basin, China

Authors
Authors and affiliations

LiDa XingEmail author
Phil R. Bell
Bruce M. Rothschild
Hao Ran
JianPing Zhang
ZhiMing Dong
Wei Zhang
Philip J. Currie

Open Access

Article Geology

First Online:: 15 April 2013

Received:: 25 November 2012
Accepted:: 05 February 2013

DOI: 10.1007/s11434-013-5765-7

Cite this article as:: Xing, L., Bell, P.R., Rothschild, B.M. et al. Chin. Sci. Bull. (2013) 58: 1931. doi:10.1007/s11434-013-5765-7

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Abstract

Pathological or traumatic loss of teeth often results in the resorption and remodeling of the affected alveoli in mammals. However, instances of alveolar remodeling in reptiles are rare. A remodeled alveolus in the maxilla of the Chinese theropod Sinosaurus (Lower Jurassic Lower Lufeng Formation) is the first confirmed example of such dental pathology in a dinosaur. Given the known relationship between feeding behavior and tooth damage in theropods (teeth with spalled enamel, tooth crowns embedded in bone) and the absence of dentary, maxillary, and premaxillary osteomyelitis, traumatic loss of a tooth is most likely the cause of alveolar remodeling. Based on the extent of remodeling, the injury and subsequent tooth loss were non-fatal in this individual.

Keywords

alveolar remodeling paleopathology Sinosaurus Lufeng Basin China

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Authors and Affiliations

LiDa Xing
- 1
- 2
Email author
Phil R. Bell
- 3
Bruce M. Rothschild
- 4
Hao Ran
- 5
JianPing Zhang
- 2
ZhiMing Dong
- 6
Wei Zhang
- 7
Philip J. Currie
- 1

1.Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonCanada
2.School of the Earth Sciences and ResourcesChina University of GeosciencesBeijingChina
3.Pipestone Creek Dinosaur InitiativeClairmontCanada
4.Division of Vertebrate Paleontology, Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research InstituteUniversity of KansasLawrenceUSA
5.Ministry of EducationKey Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University)GuilinChina
6.Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and PaleoanthropologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
7.Department of Computer EngineeringChengdu Electromechanical CollegeChengduChina

Tooth loss and alveolar remodeling in Sinosaurus triassicus (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the lower jurassic strata of the Lufeng Basin, China

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