Acherontiscus caledoniae: the earliest heterodont and durophagous tetrapod.
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Authors
Clack, Jennifer
Milner, Andrew R
Marshall, John EA
Smithson, Timothy
Smithson, Keturah Z
Publication Date
2019-05Journal Title
Royal Society open science
ISSN
2054-5703
Volume
6
Issue
5
Pages
182087
Language
eng
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Physical Medium
Electronic-eCollection
Metadata
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Clack, J., Ruta, M., Milner, A. R., Marshall, J. E., Smithson, T., & Smithson, K. Z. (2019). Acherontiscus caledoniae: the earliest heterodont and durophagous tetrapod.. Royal Society open science, 6 (5), 182087. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.182087
Abstract
The enigmatic tetrapod Acherontiscus caledoniae from the Pendleian stage of the Early Carboniferous shows heterodontous and durophagous teeth, representing the earliest known examples of significant adaptations in tetrapod dental morphology.
Tetrapods of the Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous (Mississippian), now known in some depth, are generally conservative in their dentition and body morphologies. Their teeth are simple and uniform, being cone-like and sometimes recurved at the tip. Modifications such as keels occur for the first time in Early Carboniferous Tournaisian tetrapods. Acherontiscus, dated as from the Pendleian stage, is notable for being very small with skull length of about 15 mm, having an elongate vertebral column, and being limbless. Cladistic analysis places it close to the Early Carboniferous adelospondyls, aïstopods, and colosteids, and supports the hypothesis of ‘lepospondyl’ polyphyly. Heterodonty is associated with a varied diet in tetrapods, while durophagy suggests a diet that includes hard tissue such as chitin or shells. The mid-Carboniferous saw a significant increase in morphological innovation among tetrapods, with an expanded diversity of body forms, skull shapes, and dentitions appearing for the first time.
Sponsorship
NERC
Funder references
NERC (NE/J022713/1)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.182087
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/290448