Abstract:To assess how tooth microstructure and composition might facilitate the pharyngeal mill mechanism of halfbeaks, apatite structure and iron content were determined by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis for Hyporhamphus regularis ardelio, Arrhamphus sclerolepis krefftii, and Hemiramphus robustus. Iron was present in developing teeth and was concentrated along the shearing edge of spatulate incisiform teeth, which dominate the occlusive wear zone in all three species. A model based … Show more
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