Acrodont in the context of Tuatara


Acrodont in the context of Tuatara

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⭐ Core Definition: Acrodont

Acrodonty (from Greek akros 'highest' + odont- 'tooth') is an anatomical placement of the teeth at the summit of the alveolar ridge of the jaw, without sockets, characteristic of bony fish. Functionally, acrodont tooth implantation may be related to greater bite force. However, this result is not supported when size and phylogeny is taken into account.

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Acrodont in the context of Rhynchocephalia

Rhynchocephalia (/ˌrɪŋksɪˈfliə/; lit.'beak-heads') is an order of lizard-like reptiles that includes only one living species, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) of New Zealand. Despite its current lack of diversity, during the Mesozoic rhynchocephalians were a speciose group with high morphological and ecological diversity. The oldest record of the group is dated to the Middle Triassic around 244 million years ago, and they had achieved global distribution by the Early Jurassic. Most rhynchocephalians belong to the suborder Sphenodontia ('wedge-teeth'). Their closest living relatives are lizards and snakes in the order Squamata, with the two orders being grouped together in the superorder Lepidosauria.

Rhynchocephalians are distinguished from squamates by a number of traits, including the retention of rib-like gastralia bones in the belly, as well as most rhynchocephalians having acrodont teeth that are fused to the crests of the jaws (the latter also found among a small number of modern lizard groups like agamids).

View the full Wikipedia page for Rhynchocephalia
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