Enamel and dentine microstructure analysis in extinct muroid rodents, and in extant and extinct toothed Xenarthra (sloths and armadillos)
Longitudinal section of the Wood Mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, showing typical uniserial enamel. Enamel-dentine-junction to the left, outer enamel surface to the right. Image: Daniela C. Kalthoff
Summary
Tooth enamel is a highly mineralized tissue and its microstructure has been intensively investigated since the 1980. Enamel formation is controlled by genetic and epigenetic processes and has been proven to be a valuable tool in questions of systematics, phylogeny, and biomechanics. The main technique is the analysis via scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
My research focusses on extinct muroid rodents (target tissue tooth enamel) as well as extinct and extant toothed xenarthral (target tissue orthodentine). In addition, I am interested in the enamel microstructure of fossil whales and extinct hooved mammals (Notoungulata) from South America.
Project Participants at NRM
Daniela Kalthoff (Principal investigator)
External Project Participants
Guillaume Billet, Musée d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
Gudrun Daxner-Höck, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Austria
Helder Gomes Rodrigues, Musée d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
Wighart von Koenigswald, Bonn University, Germany
Thomas Mörs, Swedish Museum of natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
