Denticle-embedded ampullary organs in a Cretaceous shark provide unique insight into the evolution of elasmobranch electroreceptors.
Naturwissenschaften
; 102(9-10): 65, 2015 Oct.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26420508
ABSTRACT
Here, we report a novel type of dermal denticle (or placoid scale), unknown among both living and fossil chondrichthyan fishes, in a Cretaceous lamniform shark. By their morphology and location, these dermal denticles, grouped into clusters in the cephalic region, appear to have been directly associated with the electrosensory ampullary system. These denticles have a relatively enlarged (â¼350 µm in diameter), ornamented crown with a small (â¼100 µm) asterisk- or cross-shaped central perforation connected to a multi-alveolate internal cavity. The formation of such a complex structure can be explained by the annular coalescence and fusion, around an ampullary vesicle, of several developmental units still at papillary stage (i.e. before mineralization), leading to a single denticle embedding an alveolar ampulla devoid of canal. This differs from larger typical ampullae of Lorenzini with a well-developed canal opening in a pore of the skin and may represent another adaptive response to low skin resistance. Since it has been recently demonstrated that ampullary organs arise from lateral line placodes in chondrichthyans, this highly specialized type of dermal denticle (most likely non-deciduous) may be derived from the modified placoid scales covering the superficial neuromasts (pit organs) of the mechanosensory lateral line system of many modern sharks.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sensory Receptor Cells
/
Sharks
/
Biological Evolution
/
Fossils
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Naturwissenschaften
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
France