Evolutionary trends of the pharyngeal dentition in Cypriniformes (Actinopterygii: Ostariophysi).

ABSTRACT:

Background

The fish order Cypriniformes is one of the most diverse ray-finned fish groups in the world with more than 3000 recognized species. Cypriniformes are characterized by a striking distribution of their dentition: namely the absence of oral teeth and presence of pharyngeal teeth on the last gill arch (fifth ceratobranchial). Despite this limited localisation, the diversity of tooth patterns in Cypriniformes is astonishing. Here we provide a further description of this diversity using X-ray microtomography and we map the resulting dental characters on a phylogenetic tree to explore evolutionary trends.

Results

We performed a pilot survey of dental formulae and individual tooth shapes in 34 adult species of Cypriniformes by X-ray microtomography (using either conventio

SUBMITTER: Pasco-Viel E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2892034 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature