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Chondrichthyans possess unique anatomical features compared to other vertebrates, in particular, a fully cartilaginous skeleton and a permanently renewed dentition. These characteristics make the fossilization of whole bodies difficult and consequently, their fossil record consists mainly of a large number of isolated teeth. The study of their dentition is therefore of primary interest for our understanding of the evolution of this group. Beyond the dental morphology, the structure of the tissues composing the dentition has proved an important source of information, sometimes difficult to interpret, on the eating habits and the paleobiology of these animals.
Evolution of Dental Tissues and Paleobiology in Selachians makes a thorough review of the existing theories in this field of research as well as introducing new elements from more recent studies. Through close reference to the fossil record of ancient selachians, it examines what the study of dental tissue in cartilaginous fish can tell us about the evolution and the past biology of these animals, as well as what we can learn about the evolution of teeth themselves.
1. Mineralized Tissues
2. Paleozoic Sharks
3. Hybodont Sharks
4. Enameloid Microstructure in Rays
5. Enameloid Microstructure Diversity in Modern Shark Teeth
6. Comparison of Enameloid Microstructure in Actinopterygian and Elasmobranch Teeth
Gilles Cuny studied natural sciences and palaeontology at the Pierre et Marie Curie University in Paris 6. After a doctoral thesis on the biological crisis of the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, Gilles spent 5 years as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bristol in England, where he specialized in the study of fossil sharks and their dental histology. He then taught palaeontology for one year at Maha Sarakham University in Thailand before taking up his duties as curator of the fossil vertebrate collections at the Geological Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark, a position he still holds today. His current research focuses on the study of Lower Cretaceous fossil sharks in Thailand and Tunisia. Another major axis of his research concerns the study of the emergence of neoselacians in Triassic and the study of the histology of the dental enamel of sharks. His work, based mainly on the study of vertebrate micro rests (teeth, scales and small isolated bones), has also led him to take an interest in many other groups (bonefish, amphibians, reptiles, primitive mammals) in collaboration with many colleagues, French and foreign. His field research led him in most countries of Western Europe, Tunisia, Madagascar, China and Thailand. Gilles is the author of forty scientific articles and fifteen articles intended for the general public.
Sébastien Enault, works at Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden and is a teaching assistant intervening in the following undergraduate courses: vertebrate comparative anatomy, vertebrate phylogeny, morphofunctional anatomy and invertebrate palaeontology.
Guinot Guillaume teaches at the University of Montpellier and has expertise in evolutionary biology, palaeobiology, and palaeontology.
