Edicellate teeth in archaic salamanders (Lissamphibia, Caudata)

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Abstract

The presence of pedicellate (subpedicellate) teeth with two calcification centers and a weakly mineralized dividing zone is described for archaic stem salamanders (Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous representatives of Karauridae). The presence of subpedicellate teeth, typical of the late larval stage of modern salamanders, confirms the neotenic nature of stem salamanders. The presence of pedicellate teeth in stem salamanders and stem caecilians confirms the hypothesis of pedicellarity as a synapomorphy of modern amphibian groups and, accordingly, the monophyly of Lissamphibia.

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About the authors

P. P. Skutschas

Saint Petersburg State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: p.skutschas@spbu.ru
Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

V. V. Kolchanov

Saint Petersburg State University

Email: p.skutschas@spbu.ru
Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

E. V. Syromyatnikova

Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: p.skutschas@spbu.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

References

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2. Fig. 1. Scheme of the structure of the pedicellar tooth using the example of Kulgeriherpeton ultimum Skutschas et al., 2018 (a) and the phylogenetic position of the studied representatives of stem salamanders (b).

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3. Fig. 2. Triassurus sixtelae Ivakhnenko, 1978, holotype PIN No. 2584/10, skeletal imprint: a – photograph of the skull, b – photograph of the area of ​​the imprints of the dentate premaxillary bones.

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4. Fig. 3. Kokartus honorarius Nessov, 1988, fragments of dentary bones; a – photograph of specimen TsNIGR #13/12937, b – specimen TsNIGR #13/12937, enlarged image in the area of ​​the dental row with preserved teeth, c – specimen ZIN PH #65/47, fragment of dentary bone with preserved teeth. The arrow marks the dividing zone.

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5. Fig. 4. Karaurus sharovi Ivakhnenko, 1978, holotype PIN №2585/2, skeleton; a – photograph of the skull, b – enlarged image in the area of ​​the dentary. The arrow marks the dividing zone.

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6. Fig. 5. Kulgeriherpeton ultimum Skutschas et al. 2018, specimen ZIN PH 80/246, fragment of dentary; a – photograph from the medial side, b – photograph in the area of ​​the dentition from the lingual side, c – photograph in the area of ​​the dentition from the dorsal side. The arrow marks the dividing zone.

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