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Ultramicrostructural reductions in teeth: implications for dietary transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds.


ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Tooth morphology within theropod dinosaurs has been extensively investigated and shows high disparity throughout the Cretaceous. Changes or diversification in feeding ecology, i.e., adoption of an herbivorous diet (e.g., granivorous), is proposed as a major driver of tooth evolution in Paraves (e.g., Microraptor, troodontids and avialans). Here, we studied the microscopic features of paravian non-avian theropod and avialan teeth using high-spatial-resolution synchrotron transmission X-ray microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS:We show that avialan teeth are characterized by the presence of simple enamel structures and a lack of porous mantle dentin between the enamel and orthodentin. Reduced internal structures of teeth took place independently in Early Cretaceous birds and a Microraptor specimen, implying that shifts in diet in avialans from that of closely related dinosaurs may correlate with a shift in feeding ecology during the transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds. CONCLUSION:Different lines of evidence all suggest a large reduction in biting force affecting the evolution of teeth in the dinosaur-bird transition. Changes in teeth microstructure and associated dietary shift may have contributed to the early evolutionary success of stemward birds in the shadow of other non-avian theropods.

SUBMITTER: Li Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7171806 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Ultramicrostructural reductions in teeth: implications for dietary transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds.

Li Zhiheng Z   Wang Chun-Chieh CC   Wang Min M   Chiang Cheng-Cheng CC   Wang Yan Y   Zheng Xiaoting X   Huang E-Wen EW   Hsiao Kiko K   Zhou Zhonghe Z  

BMC evolutionary biology 20200421 1


<h4>Background</h4>Tooth morphology within theropod dinosaurs has been extensively investigated and shows high disparity throughout the Cretaceous. Changes or diversification in feeding ecology, i.e., adoption of an herbivorous diet (e.g., granivorous), is proposed as a major driver of tooth evolution in Paraves (e.g., Microraptor, troodontids and avialans). Here, we studied the microscopic features of paravian non-avian theropod and avialan teeth using high-spatial-resolution synchrotron transm  ...[more]

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