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Article: Key innovations in Mesozoic ammonoids: the multicuspidate radula and the calcified aptychus

Palaeontology Cover Image - Volume 59 Part 6
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume: 59
Part: 6
Publication Date: November 2016
Page(s): 775 791
Author(s): Helmut Keupp, René Hoffmann, Kevin Stevens, and Raimund Albersdörfer
Addition Information

How to Cite

KEUPP, H., HOFFMANN, R., STEVENS, K., ALBERSDÖRFER, R. 2016. Key innovations in Mesozoic ammonoids: the multicuspidate radula and the calcified aptychus. Palaeontology, 59, 6, 775-791. DOI: 10.1111/pala.12254

Author Information

  • Helmut Keupp - Section Palaeontology Institute of Earth Sciences Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany (Email: keupp@zedat.fu-berlin.de)
  • René Hoffmann - Ruhr‐Universität Bochum Bochum Germany (Email: rene.hoffmann@rub.de)
  • Kevin Stevens - Ruhr‐Universität Bochum Bochum Germany (Email: kevin.stevens@rub.de)
  • Raimund Albersdörfer - Großwiesenhof 1 Berg Germany (Email: fossils@gmx.de)

Publication History

  • Manuscript Accepted: 16 July 2016
  • Manuscript Received: 03 March 2016

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Abstract

A nearly complete radula with seven elements per row preserved inside of an isolated, bivalved, calcitic lower jaw (= aptychus) of the Late Jurassic ammonite Aspidoceras is described from the Fossillagerstätte Painten (Bavaria, southern Germany). It is the largest known ammonite radula and the first record for the Perisphinctoidea. The multicuspidate tooth elements (ctenodont type of radula) present short cusps. Owing to significant morphological differences between known aptychophoran ammonoid radulae, their possible function is discussed, partly in comparison with modern cephalopod and gastropod radulae. Analogies between the evolution of the pharyngeal jaws of cichlid fishes and the ammonoid buccal apparatus raise the possibility that the evolution of a multicuspidate radula allowed for a functional decoupling of the aptychophoran ammonoid jaw. The radula, therefore, represents a key innovation which allowed for the evolution of the calcified lower jaws in Jurassic and Cretaceous aptychophoran ammonites. Possible triggers for this morphological change during the early Toarcian are discussed. Finally, we hypothesize potential adaptations of ammonoids to different feeding niches based on radular tooth morphologies.

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