Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The enameloid microstructure of euselachian (Chondrichthyes) scales

  • Published:
Paleontological Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The enameloid microstucture of chondrichthyan teeth has been studied for decades and it has proven to be a useful taxonomic tool. Changes in enameloid organization have been related to the emergence of new trophic strategies and Mesozoic radiation of the neoselachian crown group. However, in contrast to the abundance of these data on tooth enameloid, descriptions of chondrichthyan scale enameloid are almost nonexistent. The topology and microstructure of scale enameloid in particular euselachian groups: fossil Mesozoic Hybodontiformes and living neoselachians, including batoids and sharks, are described. It is shown that a thick layer of single crystallite enameloid (SCE) covers all studied scales. Although the enameloid of scales clearly does not reach high levels of microstructural differentiation present in the dental enameloid of some neoselachians, we found some degree of organization, such as oriented crystallites, differentiation into sublayers, and the presence of poorly structured sets of densely arranged parallel crystallites. As scales lack feeding functions of teeth, we suggest that the emergence of microstructural organization/differentiation of chondrichthyan enameloid can be understood as consequence of a self-organizing process rather than adaptive pressure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andreev, P.S. and Cuny, G., New Triassic stem selachimorphs (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) and their bearing on the evolution of dental enameloid in Neoselachii, J. Vertebr. Paleontol., 2012, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 255–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Botella, H., Plasencia, P., Marquez-Aliaga, A., and Dorka, M., Pseudodalatias henarejensis nov. sp, a new pseudodalatiid (Elasmobranchii) from the Middle Triassic of Spain, J. Vertebr. Paleontol., 2009a, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 1006–1012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Botella, H., Donoghue, P.C.J., and Martínez-Pérez, C., Enameloid microstucture in the oldest chondrichthyan teeth, Acta Zool., 2009b, vol. 90, no. 1, pp. 103–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cappetta, H., Types dentaires adaptatifs chez les sélaciens actuels et post-paléozoiques, Palaeovertebrata, 1986, vol. 16, pp. 57–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, H., Clarkson, B.H., Sun, K., and Mansfield, J.F., Self-assembly of synthetic hydroxyapatite nanorods into an enamel prism-like structure, J. Colloid. Interf. Sci., 2005, vol. 288, pp. 97–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuny, G., Martin, M., Rauscher, R., and Mazin, J.M., A new neoselachian shark from the Upper Triassic of Grozon (Jura, France), Geol. Mag., 1998, vol. 135, pp.657–668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuny, G., Rieppel, O., and Sander, P.M., The shark fauna from the Middle Triassic (Anisian) of north-western Nevada, Zool. J. Linn. Soc. Lond., 2001, vol. 133, pp. 285–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuny, G. and Risnes, S, The enameloid microstructure of the teeth of synechodontiform sharks (Chondrichthyes: Neoselachii), PalArch., 2005, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 9–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donoghue, P.C.J., Sansom, I.J., and Downs, J.P., Early evolution of vertebrate skeletal tissues and cellular interactions, and the canalization of skeletal development, J. Exp. Zool., 2006, vol. 306, pp. 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duffin, C., A new euselachian shark from the upper Triassic of Germany, Neues Jahrb. Geol. Paläontol. Mh., 1980, vol. 1, pp. 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duffin, C.J. and Cuny, G., Carcharopsis prototypus and the adaptations of single crystallite enameloid in cutting dentitions, Acta Geol. Polon., 2008, vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 181–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillis, J.A. and Donoghue, P.C.J., The homology and phylogeny of chondrichthyan tooth enameloid, J. Morphol., 2007, vol. 268, pp. 33–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guinot, G. and Cappetta, H., Enameloid microstructure of some Cretaceous Hexanchiformes and Synechodontiformes (Chondrichthyes, Neoselachii): New structures and systematic implications, Microsc. Res. Techniq., 2011, vol. 74, pp. 196–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janvier, P., Early Vertebrates, Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns, M.J., Barnes, C.R., and Orchard, M.J., Taxonomy and biostratigraphy of Middle and Upper Triassic ichthyoliths from northeastern British Columbia, Geol. Surv. Can., Bull., 1997, vol. 502, pp. 1–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karatajūtė-Talimaa, V., The early stages of the dermal skeleton formation in chondrichthyans, in Fossils Fishes As Living Animals, Mark-Kurik, E., Ed, Tallinn: Acad. Sci. Estonia, 1992, pp. 223–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karatajūtė-Talimaa, V., Determination methods for the exoskeletal remains of early vertebrates, Mitt. Mus. Nat Kd. Berl. Geowiss., 1998, vol. 1, pp. 21–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Margolis, H.C., Beniash, E., and Fowler, C.E., Role of macromolecular assembly of enamel matrix proteins in enamel formation, J. Dent. Res., 2006, vol. 85, no. 9, pp. 775—793.

  • Ørvig, T., Phylogeny of tooth tissues: Evolution of some calcified tissues in early vertebrates, in Structural and Chemical Organization of Teeth, Miles, A.E.W., Ed., New York, 1967, vol. 1, pp. 45–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plá, C., Plasencia, P., and Botella, H., Estudio preliminar de los Condrictios del Ladieniense (Triásico Medio) de la sección de Bugarra (València, España), Paleolusitana, 2009, vol. 1, pp. 383–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plá, C., Ferrón, H., and Manzanares, E., Escamas de condrictios del Ladiniense (Triásico Medio) de la sección Bugarra (València, España), in Viajando a mundos pretéritos, Pérez-García, A., Gascó, F., Gasulla, J.M., and Escaso, F., Eds., Ayuntamiento de Morella, Morella, Castellón, 2011, p. 400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plá, C, Márquez-Aliaga, A., and Botella, H., The chondrichthyan fauna from the Middle Triassic (Ladinian) of the Iberian Range (Spain), J. Vertebr. Paleontol., 2013, vol. 33, no. 4. pp. 770–785.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preuschoft, H., Reif, W.E., and Müller, W.H., Funktionsanpassungen in Form und Struktur an Haifischzahnen, Z. Anal. Entwickl., 1974, vol. 143, pp. 315–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reif, W.-E., Morphologie und Ultrastruktur des Hai-“Schmelzes”, Zool. Scr., 1973, vol. 2, pp. 231–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reif, W.-E., Teeth enameloid as a taxonomic criterion, Part 1: A new euselachian shark from the Rhaetic-Liassic boundary, Neues Jahrb. Geol. Paläontol. Mh., 1977, vol. 9, pp. 565–576.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reif, W.-E., Bending-resistant enameloid in carnivorous teleosts, Neues Jahrb. Geol. Paläontol. Abh., 1978, vol. 157, pp. 173–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reif, W.-E., Structural convergence between enameloid of actinopterygian teeth and of shark teeth, Scan. Electron. Microsc., 1979, vol. 11, pp. 546–554.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sander, P.M., Prismless enamel in amniotes: Terminology, function, and evolution, in Development, Function and Evolution of Teeth, Teaford, M.F., Smith, M.M., and Ferguson, M.W.J., Eds., Cambridge Univ. Press, 2000, pp. 92–106.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sire, J.Y., Donoghue, P.J.C., and Vickaryous, M.K., Origin and evolution of the integumentary skeleton in non-tetrapod vertebrates, J. Anat., 2009, vol. 214, pp. 409–440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thies, D. and Reif, W.E., Phylogeny and evolutionary ecology of Mesozoic Neoselachii, Neues Jahrb. Geol. Paläontol. Mh., 1985, vol. 169, pp. 333–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, L., Guan, X., Yin, H., Moradian-Oldak, J., and Nancollas, G.H., Mimicking the self-organized microstructure of tooth enamel, J. Phys. Chem. C. Nanom. Interf., 2008, vol. 112, no. 15, pp. 5892–5899.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Valencia, C/Dr. Moliner 50, Burjassot Valencia, E-46100, Spain

    E. Manzanares, C. Plá, C. Martínez-Pérez & H. Botella

  2. School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen’s Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK

    C. Martínez-Pérez

  3. Institut Cavnilles de Biodiversitat I Biología Evolutiva, C/Catedrático José Beltrán, 5, Paterna, Valencia, E-46980, Spain

    D. Rasskin

Authors
  1. E. Manzanares
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Plá
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Martínez-Pérez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. Rasskin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H. Botella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. Manzanares.

Additional information

The article is published in the original.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Manzanares, E., Plá, C., Martínez-Pérez, C. et al. The enameloid microstructure of euselachian (Chondrichthyes) scales. Paleontol. J. 48, 1060–1066 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030114100062

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030114100062

Keywords

Search

Navigation