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- Title
Dental Histology of a Characoid Fish from the Plio-Pleistocene of Acre, Brazil.
- Authors
RICHTER, MARTHA
- Abstract
The histology of premaxillary teeth of Colossoma sp. from the Solimöes Formation of Northern Brazil is described, in comparison with Recent material. Analysis by light and scanning electron microscopy shows that they share with those of the serrasalminids, histological (though not anatomical) features of carnivorous fishes. The enameloid in both groups displays surface-parallel images of calcified fibres along the periphery of the teeth while internally, these images present a random distribution. Such similarities suggest that both the serrasalminids and myleinids may have evolved from carnivorous ancestors. The serrasalminids remain carnivorous, while the herbivorous habit of the myleinids may have been acquired secondarily. This change of diet is probably related to changes in the shape of the teeth which are used for crushing fruits, seeds and leaves. The teeth in adult Colossoma are unicuspid, though not conical. The molar or incisive form of these teeth may have evolved independently from the conical-shaped primitive dentition of the characoids, without passing through any stage of fusion of dental papillae, which is observed in the ontogenetic development of other characoids.
- Publication
Zoologica Scripta, 1984, Vol 13, Issue 1, p69
- ISSN
0300-3256
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1463-6409.1984.tb00024.x