The deciduous dentition and dental replacement in the Eocene bat Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon from Messel: The primitive condition and beginning of specialization of milk teeth among Chiroptera
B. Sige et al., The deciduous dentition and dental replacement in the Eocene bat Palaeochiropteryx tupaiodon from Messel: The primitive condition and beginning of specialization of milk teeth among Chiroptera, LETHAIA, 31(4), 1998, pp. 349-358
The deciduous dentition and tooth replacement pattern of Palaeochiropteryx
tupaiodon from the early Middle Eocene of Messel, near Frankfurt, Germany,
are described. Ontogenetic stares include fetuses to subadults. The posteri
or portion of the deciduous dentition (dP3-4) still shows the primitive eut
herian condition of molarization, while the anterior part (dI-dC) was alrea
dy engaged in the evolution of the highly derived condition found in living
bars for clinging to the mother's fur. A styliform and sharp anterior dent
ition is considered a prerequisite in earliest chiropteran evolution. The g
reatly modified milk teeth of all living bats developed in different clades
by parallel evolution under high selective pressure. The tiny and, at init
ial stages, poorly calcified teeth are substantiated by a newly developed m
icroradiographic technique which is described in detail.