INVESTIGADORES
LUCIFORA Luis Omar
artículos
Título:
Analysis of dental insertion angles in the sand tiger shark, Carcharias taurus (Chondrichthyes: Lamniformes)
Autor/es:
LUIS O. LUCIFORA; ROBERTO C. MENNI; ALICIA H. ESCALANTE
Revista:
CYBIUM
Editorial:
Société Française d'Ichtyologie
Referencias:
Lugar: París; Año: 2001 vol. 25 p. 23 - 31
ISSN:
0399-0974
Resumen:
Differences in insertion angles of each tooth type of Carcharias taurus are described and
analyzed within a functional framework. Upper anterior teeth show a more pronounced inward inclination
than upper lateral and lower anterior ones that would be related to initial puncturing of prey. Lower ante-
rior teeth have an outward inclination, probably related to a function of initial prey grasping by these teeth
while the upper anteriors puncture prey. The upper lateral teeth are more inclined than the lower lateral.
Upper and lower lateral teeth would be adapted to hold prey. A ventral inclination of the anterior part of
the palatoquadrate is present in C.taurus, and it is likely to facilitate the puncturing work of the upper
anterior and to enhance the patchiness of these teeth. We also report some dental anomalies such as inter-
mediate tooth reversal, reduced first and second lower anterior teeth, presence of hook-like anterior and
lateral teeth, and the absence of a lower lateral tooth. These latter two anomalies are described for the first
time in C.taurus. Our results agree with previously published interpretations based on tooth shape. The
results here presented can be considered as a working hypothesis for future experimental research.