title: Evolutionary trends of the pharyngeal dentition in Cypriniformes (Actinopterygii: Ostariophysi).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fish order Cypriniformes is one of the most diverse ray-finned fish groups in the world with more than 3000 recognized species. Cypriniformes are characterized by a striking distribution of their dentition: namely the absence of oral teeth and presence of pharyngeal teeth on the last gill arch (fifth ceratobranchial). Despite this limited localisation, the diversity of tooth patterns in Cypriniformes is astonishing. Here we provide a further description of this diversity using X-ray microtomography and we map the resulting dental characters on a phylogenetic tree to explore evolutionary trends.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed a pilot survey of dental formulae and individual tooth shapes in 34 adult species of Cypriniformes by X-ray microtomography (using either conventional X-ray machine, or synchrotron microtomography when necessary) or by dissecting. By mapping morphological results in a phylogenetic tree, it emerges that the two super-families Cobitoidea and Cyprinoidea have followed two distinct evolutionary pathways. Furthermore, our analysis supports the hypothesis of a three-row dentition as ancestral for Cyprinoidea and a general trend in tooth row reduction in most derived lineages. Yet, this general scheme must be considered with caution as several events of tooth row gain and loss have occurred during evolutionary history of Cyprinoidea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dentition diversity in Cypriniformes constitutes an excellent model to study the evolution of complex morphological structures. This morphological survey clearly advocates for extending the use of X-ray microtomography to study tooth morphology in Cypriniformes. Yet, our survey also underlines that improved knowledge of Cypriniformes life traits, such as feeding habits, is required as current knowledge is not sufficient to conclude on the link between diet and dental morphology.
authors.affiliation: Evo-devo of Vertebrate Dentition, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon, CNRS, INRA, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pasco-Viel
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chevret
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Semon
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tafforeau
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Viriot
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laudet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003531:Cypriniformes / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*