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Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

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Published on: August 22, 2022

Quantitative analyses of squamate dentition demonstrate novel morphological patterns.

Kiana Christensen¹, Keegan M Melstrom^1,2

¹Natural History Museum of Utah, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America.

|September 10, 2021

Summary

Squamate (lizard and snake) dental complexity increases with plant-based diets. However, dental complexity changes with age differ between species, revealing novel patterns in reptile evolution.

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Area of Science:

Paleontology
Evolutionary Biology
Zoology

Background:

Squamates display diverse diets and dental morphologies, making them ideal for studying diet-dentition links.
Existing knowledge on squamate dental morphology and diet is largely qualitative, lacking quantitative data on dental complexity patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantitatively analyze squamate dental morphology patterns.
To re-examine the relationship between diet and dentition in squamates.
To investigate ontogenetic shifts in dental complexity in two iguanid genera.

Main Methods:

Quantitative analysis of dental morphology across a broad taxonomic dataset of squamates.
Comparison of dental complexity between different dentigerous elements and jaw positions.
Examination of dental complexity changes throughout ontogeny in selected iguanid species.

Main Results:

Species with higher plant consumption exhibit more complex teeth.
No significant complexity differences were found between left/right dentigerous elements or upper/lower jaws, except in Amblyrhynchus cristatus.
Amblyrhynchus cristatus showed increased dental complexity with age, while Ctenosaura showed decreased complexity, despite similar dietary shifts.

Conclusions:

This study quantifies novel patterns in squamate dental complexity, supporting diet-dentition correlations.
Ontogenetic dietary shifts have complex and varied effects on dental morphology.
Further research can explore the diversity of dental morphology in squamates.