Ziphodont

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Tooth of Carcharodontosaurus saharicus from the side and from the front
Tooth of Dracoraptor Hanigani . The detailed illustrations on the left show the saw edges on the (B) rear and (C) front edge of the tooth.

Ziphodont is a scientific term used in palaeontology and zoology to describe the texture of teeth in certain vertebrates .

Word origin

The term ziphodont is a compound composed of the Greek words ziphos (Abschreibefehler of erstbeschreibenden paleontologists, was actually meant ξίφος xiphos ) meaning "sword" and ὸδὀντος odontos meaning "tooth," meaning "sword tooth".

definition

Ziphodontic teeth are long, tapered, compressed or flattened on the sides, and serrated on the edges. The tips are sometimes slightly curved backwards. This tooth morphology suggests a carnivorous to hypercarnivorous way of life - skin and other tissue of the prey animal was pierced and cut out with the serrated edges.

Occurrence

Ziphodontia has developed among archosaurs several times in the course of evolution ( convergence ). It is found particularly in the crocodile relatives ( Mesoeucrocodylia ), for example in the Notosuchia or Ziphosuchia ( Baurusuchidae and Sebecidae ) during the Upper Cretaceous and the Paleogene . Most theropod dinosaurs were also ziphodonts. The ziphodontic dentition of the crocodile Pristichampsus from the Eocene was very similar to that of the dinosaurs. This similarity led to the misconception that the dinosaurs survived the mass extinction at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary . The last known ziphodontal crocodile was Quinkana fortirostrum from the Pleistocene of Australia, which became extinct about 40,000 years ago.

Ziphodontia also occurs in monitor lizards , such as the extinct giant form Megalania .

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