The Teeth of Non-Mammalian Vertebrates - by Barry Berkovitz & Peter Shellis (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The Teeth of Non-Mammalian Vertebrates is the first comprehensive publication devoted to the teeth and dentitions of living fishes, amphibians and reptiles. The book presents a comprehensive survey of the amazing variety of tooth forms among non-mammalian vertebrates, based on descriptions of approximately 400 species belonging to about 160 families. The text is lavishly illustrated with more than 600 high-quality color and monochrome photographs of specimens gathered from top museum collections and researchers from around the world, supplemented by radiographs, scanning electron micrographs, and micro-CT images. This stimulating work discusses the functional morphology of feeding, the attachment of teeth, and the relationship of tooth form to function, with each chapter accompanied by a comprehensive, up-to-date reference list. Following the descriptions of the teeth and dentitions in each class, four chapters review current topics with considerable research activity: tooth development; tooth replacement; and the structure, formation, and evolution of the dental hard tissues. This timely book, authored by internationally recognized teachers and researchers in the field, also reflects the resurgence of interest in the dentitions of non-mammalian vertebrates as experimental systems to help understand genetic changes in the evolution of teeth and jaws. Key features: provides detailed coverage of the dentition of all living groups of non-mammalian vertebrates; includes clear, concise, and up-to-date reviews of tooth structure, attachment, development, and replacement, together with helpful reading lists; offers guidance on tooth morphology for classification and evolution of vertebrates."--

Book Synopsis

The Teeth of Non-Mammalian Vertebrates is the first comprehensive publication devoted to the teeth and dentitions of living fishes, amphibians and reptiles. The book presents a comprehensive survey of the amazing variety of tooth forms among non-mammalian vertebrates, based on descriptions of approximately 400 species belonging to about 160 families. The text is lavishly illustrated with more than 600 high-quality color and monochrome photographs of specimens gathered from top museums and research workers from around the world, supplemented by radiographs and micro-CT images.

This stimulating work discusses the functional morphology of feeding, the attachment of teeth, and the relationship of tooth form to function, with each chapter accompanied by a comprehensive, up-to-date reference list. Following the descriptions of the teeth and dentitions in each class, four chapters review current topics with considerable research activity: tooth development; tooth replacement; and the structure, formation and evolution of the dental hard tissues. This timely book, authored by internationally recognized teachers and researchers in the field, also reflects the resurgence of interest in the dentitions of non-mammalian vertebrates as experimental systems to help understand genetic changes in evolution of teeth and jaws.

Review Quotes

"This book demonstrates the fascinating array of types of tooth that are found in non-mammalian vertebrates. There are descriptions of around 400 species and 160 families. Particular attention is paid to functional morphology in respect of feeding." --BMJ

"This text is a very worthwhile collection of work describing non- mammalian dentition in great detail. ... Both authors have a long-track record of publishing on this subject, as well as human oral biology (Berkovitz). Their experience shines throughout this book." --Journal of Veterinary Dentistry

"Anyone interested in teeth and the oral cavity will find this text instantly fascinating, vastly informative, and easy to navigate. This book is a must-have for any anatomist, veterinary dentist, zoo or aquatic veterinarian, paleontologist, or researcher."--Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

"For those interested in how vertebrates adapt to different diets and lifestyles this book is a wealth of information and intriguing facts. For someone who needs a staple reference guide to the various non-mammalian dental forms, this book is an invaluable ready reference and a highly recommended, must-have resource." --Journal of Anatomy

"This book will certainly be a very important source of information in the years to come for anyone interested on the diversity, evolution and function of teeth in vertebrates." --Aqua-International Journal of Ichthyology

"This impressive textbook has entered the market as the first to address the issue of teeth and dentitions of the fish, amphibian and reptile species...The outstanding feature of the book is the wide sources of images from museums and researchers...I can highly recommend this text for the interested academic." --Faculty Dental Journal