Capstone Title

Selachian Dentition From the Devonian to the Present, with Descriptions of Tooth Sets from Extant Coastal Galeoids of East Central Florida

Defense Date

1995

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

M.S. Marine Biology

First Advisor

Curtis Burney

Abstract

This investigation reviews the development, gross morphology, histology, and heterodonty of selachian teeth. and the dental types known to exist within extinct and extant species. Eighteen coastal galeoid species were captured in the Atlantic coastal waters off Volusia County, Florida, using commercial long- line fishing gear. Representative species of the Carcharinidae, Lamnidae. Ginglymostomatidae, Odontasptdidae, and Sphyrnidae were collected and are discussed. Teeth were removed, cleaned, and tooth sets were arranged, examined, described, and compared to previously reported descriptions. Three dental types and two subtypes were identified: clutching, tearing. and cutting types as well as cutting-clutching and cutting sensu stricto subtypes. Dignathic heterodonty was found to exist in the Carcharinidae, Lamnidae, Odontaspididae, and Sphyrnidae. Gradient monognathic heterodonty was found to exist in the Carcharinidae, Lamnidae, Ginglymostomatidae, Odontaspididae, and Sphyrnidae. Two forms of gradient monognathic heterodonty were identified; non-linear gradient monognathic heterodonty in the · Carcharinidae, Lamnidae, Odontaspididae, and Sphyrnidae, and linear gradient monognathic heterodonty in the Gtnglymostomatidae. All of the dental formulas recorded in this investigation agree with one or more of the published reports for each species, although slight variations occur within the literature.

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