Scanning electron microscope analysis of enamel microstructure in a Polycotylid (Plesiosauria) from the Pierre Shale Group, South Dakota, U.S.A.
- Published
- Accepted
- Subject Areas
- Evolutionary Studies, Paleontology
- Keywords
- Polycotylid, Plesiosauria, Scanning Electron Microscope, Enamel Microstructure
- Copyright
- © 2015 Testin
- Licence
- This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. For attribution, the original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ PrePrints) and either DOI or URL of the article must be cited.
- Cite this article
- 2015. Scanning electron microscope analysis of enamel microstructure in a Polycotylid (Plesiosauria) from the Pierre Shale Group, South Dakota, U.S.A. PeerJ PrePrints 3:e1381v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1381v1
Abstract
The teeth of polycotylid plesiosaurs are generally simple, cone shaped, non-serrated and only slightly recurved without distinct carinae. The surface of crowns are characterized by a series of vertical enamel wrinkles that are more highly developed on the lingual surface of the crown, and decrease in width and number toward the apex. Some of the most promising research related to fossil dentition, involves the analysis of surface and internal dental microstructure. This study, is an attempt to examine and describe polycotylid dental microstructure. It gives an overview of polycotylid plesiosaur enamel and dentine microstructures using a scanning electron microscope. Enamel type and structures vary, based on its position on the surface of the crown, and its perceived strength requirements. The dentition layer is “honeycombed” with tubular structure, possibly to provide nourishment to fast growing crowns. The study of crown microstructures may lead to a better understanding of polycotylid niche preference in the late Cretaceous oceans.
Author Comment
This is a preprint submission to PeerJ.