Scribd
Upload
193 views4 pages

Bivalve Dentition

Uploaded by

rupkishor189
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
193 views4 pages

Bivalve Dentition

Uploaded by

rupkishor189
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

DENTITION IN BIVALVES (Pelecypoda /Lamellibranchia)

INTRODUCTION:-
The pelecypods constitute the second longest group of mollusks & are particularly
interested because representative of this class show a wide range of adaptations. They are
familiar to layman because of their economic importance. Oysters, Clams are important source
of food, certain pelecypod produce pearls of gem quality. The typical pelecypod is bilaterally
symmetrical in both soft & hard part. They are bivalve, bottom dwellers, lamellibranchs is a
greek word, meaning lamell = leaf or small plate, branchia = gills, referred to the leaf like nature
of gills.

The valves interlock dorsally by means of teeth & sockets that lie along a straight or a
curved hinge line. Teeth are present in both valves & fit into corresponding sockets in the
opposite valve. (Hinge means dental apparatus)

DENTITION- The teeth, sockets & certain other closely associated structure are collectively
termed the Dentition. The number, nature and arrangements of component of dentition are
important for discrimination of both fossils & modern shells.

The first hinge teeth developed from crenulation & irregularities on the dorsal margin
& that they served, primarily for preventing the valves from sheering over one another. In the
early Ordo-Silurian a dental apparatus was developed which consisted of many small teeth &
alternating sockets. This arrangement of dentition was little more than a series of slightly
modified irregularities of cardinal margin.

However soon two pattern of teeth arrangement evolved


(i) Taxodont(Ctenodont) Types- In which the teeth tended to converge from the hinge line
towards the centre of valves as i.e. Nucula, Ctenodonta, Arca.
(ii) Actinodont Type- The teeth radiated downward from the umbo, as in e.g.- Actinodonta,
Lyriodesma.

Taxodont dentition didn’t gave rise to other modified pattern through this type has
representation in the order. Taxodonta e.g.- Nucula. Actinodont type on the other hand provided
that a modified Actinodont arrangement of teeth & socket & gave rise to a long series of
modifications.

The early actinodont had centrally located teeth, the teeth were heavy & short, where
as the outer or posterior ones were elongated & slender.

Modification followed two general lines.


(i) Reduction in the number of teeth.
(ii) Increase in size & projection of those remaining
System of Notation:

In describing dentition a customary system of notation for the hinge teeth deviced by
french palaeontologist Bernard & Munier Chalman is followed. Number are used for principal
teeth, the numbering starts with the lowest figures for the centrally placed teeth. Odd numbers
are used for the teeth of right valve and even numbers for those on the left.

The letter “a” indicates an anterior tooth, “b” a posterior one. Sockets are indicated by
a _ (long desh) between numbers, and lateral teeth are indicated by short deshes parallel to the
hinge line.

Different type of Dentition:

From the early Actinodont type, many modified forms of dentition evolved.
Evolution in Dention in Bivaluia (Swinerton, 1947)

Palaeontologist have described large number of types of dentition, because some extinct
pelecypods had dentition unlike in any present in living forms. Dentition consists of a series of
many alternating small teeth & sockets. Nucula, Arca, Ctenodont.
Besides, Taxodonta & Actinodont which were the earlier types, other types are as follows.

(1) Heterodont Type:- It is highly developed type of dentition among pelecypods and are
characterised by a few large cardinal teeth of different shape & size with or without laterals.
Venus, with 3 cardinal in right valve 2 in left valve is examples.
(2) Schizodont Type:- It is the divergent or arrested derivative from the actinodont type. The
teeth are variable in shape & size. E.g. Unio, Myopharia & Trigonia.
(3) Isodont Type:- It consists of equally developed teeth. The teeth & sockets are arranged
symmetrically on either side of the value e.g. Pecten.
(4) Dysodont Type:- Feebly developed type and has evolved from external sculpture across the
cardinal area from the beak. E.g. Mytilus.
(5) Pantdont Type:- It has cardinal & lateral teeth, of which the former are grooved. E.g.
Allodesma
(6) Diagenodont Type:- It consist of 3 or less cardinals & 1 or 2 laterals. E.g. Astarte
(7) Cyclodont Type:- Characterized by lack of flate hinge plate & extreme bending of teeth. E.g.
Cardium
(8) Asthenodont Type:- this is marked by obsolete teeth. E.g. Mya
(9) Anomalodont Type:- Teeth are generally very small and are all together absent. E.g.
Allorisma
(10) Eduntulous Type:- No teeth present e.g. Anodonto. Lateral Teeth. The withdrawal of the
teeth from the vicinity of the muscles left the corresponding portions of the huge margin without
guiding projections. This defect was remedied in the early Mesozoic by the appearance of new
teeth at these points beyond the units of the ligament called as lateral teeth other are cardinal
teeth.

You might also like