A conserved tooth resorption mechanism in modern and fossil snakes

Aaron LeBlanc; A. Palci; Neal Anthwal; Abigail Tucker; Ricardo Araújo; Manuel Pereira; M. W. Caldwell

A conserved tooth resorption mechanism in modern and fossil snakes

Aaron LeBlanc^*, A. Palci, Neal Anthwal, Abigail Tucker, Ricardo Araújo, Manuel Pereira, M. W. Caldwell

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Whether snakes evolved their elongate, limbless bodies or their specialized skulls and teeth first is a central question in squamate evolution. Identifying features shared between extant and fossil snakes is therefore key to unraveling the early evolution of this iconic reptile group. One promising candidate is their unusual mode of tooth replacement, whereby teeth are replaced without signs of external tooth resorption. We reveal through histological analysis that the lack of resorption pits in snakes is due to the unusual action of odontoclasts, which resorb dentine from within the pulp of the tooth. Internal tooth resorption is widespread in extant snakes, differs from replacement in other reptiles, and is even detectable via non-destructive μCT scanning, providing a method for identifying fossil snakes. We then detected internal tooth resorption in the fossil snake Yurlunggur, and one of the oldest snake fossils, Portugalophis, suggesting that it is one of the earliest innovations in Pan-Serpentes, likely preceding limb loss.

Original language	English
Article number	NCOMMS-21-45675C
Journal	Nature Communications
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 31 Jan 2023

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title = "A conserved tooth resorption mechanism in modern and fossil snakes",

abstract = "Whether snakes evolved their elongate, limbless bodies or their specialized skulls and teeth first is a central question in squamate evolution. Identifying features shared between extant and fossil snakes is therefore key to unraveling the early evolution of this iconic reptile group. One promising candidate is their unusual mode of tooth replacement, whereby teeth are replaced without signs of external tooth resorption. We reveal through histological analysis that the lack of resorption pits in snakes is due to the unusual action of odontoclasts, which resorb dentine from within the pulp of the tooth. Internal tooth resorption is widespread in extant snakes, differs from replacement in other reptiles, and is even detectable via non-destructive μCT scanning, providing a method for identifying fossil snakes. We then detected internal tooth resorption in the fossil snake Yurlunggur, and one of the oldest snake fossils, Portugalophis, suggesting that it is one of the earliest innovations in Pan-Serpentes, likely preceding limb loss. ",

author = "Aaron LeBlanc and A. Palci and Neal Anthwal and Abigail Tucker and Ricardo Ara{\'u}jo and Manuel Pereira and Caldwell, {M. W.}",

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journal = "Nature Communications",

issn = "2041-1723",

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T1 - A conserved tooth resorption mechanism in modern and fossil snakes

AU - LeBlanc, Aaron

AU - Palci, A.

AU - Anthwal, Neal

AU - Tucker, Abigail

AU - Araújo, Ricardo

AU - Pereira, Manuel

AU - Caldwell, M. W.

PY - 2023/1/31

Y1 - 2023/1/31

N2 - Whether snakes evolved their elongate, limbless bodies or their specialized skulls and teeth first is a central question in squamate evolution. Identifying features shared between extant and fossil snakes is therefore key to unraveling the early evolution of this iconic reptile group. One promising candidate is their unusual mode of tooth replacement, whereby teeth are replaced without signs of external tooth resorption. We reveal through histological analysis that the lack of resorption pits in snakes is due to the unusual action of odontoclasts, which resorb dentine from within the pulp of the tooth. Internal tooth resorption is widespread in extant snakes, differs from replacement in other reptiles, and is even detectable via non-destructive μCT scanning, providing a method for identifying fossil snakes. We then detected internal tooth resorption in the fossil snake Yurlunggur, and one of the oldest snake fossils, Portugalophis, suggesting that it is one of the earliest innovations in Pan-Serpentes, likely preceding limb loss.

AB - Whether snakes evolved their elongate, limbless bodies or their specialized skulls and teeth first is a central question in squamate evolution. Identifying features shared between extant and fossil snakes is therefore key to unraveling the early evolution of this iconic reptile group. One promising candidate is their unusual mode of tooth replacement, whereby teeth are replaced without signs of external tooth resorption. We reveal through histological analysis that the lack of resorption pits in snakes is due to the unusual action of odontoclasts, which resorb dentine from within the pulp of the tooth. Internal tooth resorption is widespread in extant snakes, differs from replacement in other reptiles, and is even detectable via non-destructive μCT scanning, providing a method for identifying fossil snakes. We then detected internal tooth resorption in the fossil snake Yurlunggur, and one of the oldest snake fossils, Portugalophis, suggesting that it is one of the earliest innovations in Pan-Serpentes, likely preceding limb loss.

M3 - Article

SN - 2041-1723

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

M1 - NCOMMS-21-45675C

ER -

A conserved tooth resorption mechanism in modern and fossil snakes

Abstract

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