Overview

Chondrichthyans possess unique anatomical features compared to other vertebrates, in particular a fully cartilaginous skeleton and a permanently renewed dentition. These characteristics make the fossilization of whole bodies difficult and consequently their fossil record consists mainly of a large number of isolated teeth. The study of their dentition is therefore of primary interest for our understanding of the evolution of this group. Beyond the dental morphology, the structure of the tissues composing the dentition has proved an important source of information, sometimes difficult to interpret, on the eating habits and the paleobiology of these animals. This book makes a thorough review of the existing theories in this field of research as well as introducing new elements from more recent studies. Through close reference to the fossil record of ancient selachians it examines what the study of dental tissue in cartilaginous fish can tell us about the evolution and the past biology of these animals, as well as what we can learn about the evolution of teeth themselves.

Full Product Details

9781785481390

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Gilles Cuny is Professor of Paleontology at the University of Lyon in France and a specialist in the evolution of sharks, having been curator of the collection of vertebrate palaeontology at the Natural History Museum of Denmark for 13 years. Guillaume Guinot is a lecturer at the University of Montpellier in France. His work focuses on the evolution of Mesozoic chondrichthyan faunas, dental histology, and the macroevolution of different groups of “fish” (chondrichthyans and osteichthyans) and other marine vertebrates. Sebastien Enault obtained his doctorate from the University of Montpellier in France for his research on the evolution and development of the chondrichthyan skeleton. After a post-doctorate at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Netherlands), he is now preparing osteological specimens for natural history museums.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available