|Les Musées de Genève|
T +41 22 418 63 33
-President of Dinosauria
-Board member of Société paléontologique suisse, of Swiss Systematics Society
-Editoral board member of the Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, Cybium, review editor of Frontiers in Palaeontology
-Editoral board member of the Revue de Paléobiologie (since 2013)
Mesozoic bony fishes from Thailand and their palaeogeographical significances
This project, launched in 2002, deals with the evolutionary history of several groups of bony fishes discovered in Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits of Thailand, and with their potential palaeogeographical signal. Excavations are regularly conducted under the supervision of the Department of Mineral Resources and the Mahasarakham University in several localities in northeastern Thailand. A more specific study - supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (FNS, 200021-113980) between 2006 and 2010 - has aimed at looking at a potential palaeogeographical co-signal between the piscivorous spinosaurids dinosaurs and the semionotiform fishes.
-Dr Varavudh Suteethorn, Mahasarakham University, Thailand
-Dr Komsorn Lauprasert, Mahasarakham University, Thailand
-Dr Suravech Suteethorn, Université de Mahasarakham, Thailand
-Dr Uthumporn Deesri, Mahasarakham University, Thailand
-Dr Eric Buffetaut, CNRS, France
Selection of publications
Deesri, U., Lauprasert, K., Suteethorn, V., Wongo, K. & Cavin, L. 2014. A New Ginglymodian fish (Actinopterygii, Holostei) from the Late-Jurassic Phu Kradung Formation, northeastern Thailand. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 59(2): 313-331. doi: 10.4202/app.2012.0013
Cavin, L. Deesri, U. & Suteethorn, V. 2013. Osteology and relationships of Thaiichthys nov. gen., a ginglymodi from the Late Jurassic - Early Cretaceous of Thailand. Palaeontology. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2012.01184.x
Cavin, L., Deesri, U. & Suteethorn, V. 2009. The Jurassic and Cretaceous bony fish record (Actinopterygii, Dipnoi) from Thailand. In: Buffetaut, E., Cuny, G. Le Loeuff, J. & Suteethorn, V. Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Continental Ecosystems of SE Asia. Geological Society of London, Special Publication 315: 123-137. doi: 10.1144/SP315.10
Cavin, L., Suteethorn, V., Buffetaut, E., Claude, J., Cuny, G., Le Loeuff, J. & Tong, H. 2007. The first sinamiid fish (Holostei, Halecomorpha) from South-east Asia (Early Cretaceous of Thailand). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27 (4): 827-837. doi: 10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[827:TFSFHH]2.0.CO;2
Cavin, L., V. Suteethorn, V., Buffetaut, E. & Tong, H. 2007. A new Thai Mesozoic lungfish (Sarcopterygii, Dipnoi) with an insight into post-Palaeozoic dipnoan evolution. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 149: 141-177. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2007.00238.x
Cavin, L. & Suteethorn, V. 2006. A new Semionotiformes (Actinopterygii, Neopterygii) from Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous of Northeastern Thailand with comments on the semionotiformes relationships. Palaeontology 49 (2): 339-353. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2006.00539.x
Fish assemblages from the ‘mid-Cretaceous' continental ecosystems of North Africa
After my PhD Thesis (1997) and a FNS post-doc position (1999-2001) about a new marine fish faunal from the Turonian of SE Morocco, I have carried on with the study of fish assemblages from the ‘Continental Intercalaire' or ‘Kem Kem beds' located in the same area. The goal is to understand changes among fish assemblages in connection with local and global environmental changes, and also to follow the alteration of the biogeographical affinities in the succession of assemblages. A project, supported by the FNS (2010-2013: 200021-129923), aims at understanding the ecological oddities of the vertebrate assemblage of the ‘Continental Intercalaire', in particular by conducting new fieldtrips in Morocco and Algeria. An extension of this project in 2013-2014 (200020-146868) was planned to do field works in North Cameroon, but due to security reasons we focused on prospections in coeval deposits in Europe.
blog describing our fieldwork in Morocco in 2012
-Dr. Emilie Läng (post-doc at the Geneva Museum, FNS)
-Prof Larbi Boudad, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques d'Errachidia, Morocco
-Dr Haiyan Tong, Musée des Dinosaures, Espéraza, France
-Dr Jean Le Loeuff, Musée des Dinosaures, Espéraza, France
-Dr Jérôme Tabouelle, Musée d'histoire naturelle d'Elbeuf, France
-Prof. Elias Samankassou, University of Geneva, Switzerland
-Laszlo Maio, master studiant, University of Geneva, Switzerland
-Team of the departement of geology and palaeontology: Dr Christian Meister, Dr André Piuz, Pierre-Alain Proz.
Selection of publications
Cavin, L, Tong, H., Boudad, L., Meister, C., Piuz, A., Tabouelle, J., Aarab, M., Amiot, R., Buffetaut, E., Dyke, G., Hua, S. & Le Loeuff, J. 2010. Vertebrate assemblages from the early Late Cretaceous of southeastern Morocco: an overview. Geological Society of Africa Presidential Review No. 16. Journal of African Earth Sciences 57: 391-412. doi: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.12.007
Cavin, L. & Forey, P.L. 2008. A new tselfatiiform teleost from the mid-Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of the Kem Kem beds, Southern Morocco. In: Arratia, G., Schultze, H-P. & Wilson, M.V.H (Eds.) Mesozoic Fishes IV. Homology and Phylogeny. Dr Pfeil Verlag: 199-216.
Forey, P.L. & Cavin, L. 2007. A new species of Cladocyclus (Teleostei : Ichthyodectiformes) from the Cenomanian of Morocco. Palaeontologia Electronica 10 (3), 10 p. (http://palaeo-electronica.org/2007_3/133/index.html)
Cavin, L. & Forey, P.L. 2004. New mawsoniid coelacanth (Sarcopterygii: Actinistia) remains from the Cretaceous of the Kem Kem beds, SE Morocco. In: Tintori, A. & Arratia, G. (Eds.) Mesozoic Fishes III. Dr Pfeil Verlag: 493-506.
Cavin, L. 2001. Osteology and phylogenetic relationships of the teleost Goulmimichthys arambourgi Cavin, 1995 from the Upper Cretaceous of Goulmima, Morocco. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae 133: 25-52.
Cavin, L., Boudad, L., Duffaud, S., Kabiri, L., Le Loeuff, J., Rouget, I. & Tong, H. 2001. L'évolution des faunes de poissons du Crétacé du bassin du Tafilalt et des régions avoisinantes, SE du Maroc : implications paléoécologiques et paléogéographiques. Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, Paris. Sciences de la Terre et des planètes 333: 677-783.
Cavin, L. & Forey, P.L. 2001. Osteology and systematic affinities of Palaeonotopterus greenwoodi Forey, 1997 (Teleostei: Osteoglossomorpha). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 132: 1-28. doi: 10.1006/zjls.2000.0284
Evolutionary history of bony fishes from the Jurassic to the Eocene
The global trends in the evolutionary history of bony fishes (Actinopterygii and Sarcopterygii) are studied on the basis of a compilation of literature and by analysing data bases. I have focused first on the study of the consequences of the Cretaceous-Palaeogene event on bony fishes, then on the study of radiation events observed in the fossil record. These events - detected as peaks of diversity in the fossil record - are either genuine (Cenomanian) or artefactual (Late Jurassic). I'm also interested in global biogeographical patterns observed in the evolutionary history of these animals (see Cavin, L., Longbottom, A & Richter, M. 2008. Fishes and the breakup of Pangaea. Geological Society of London, Special Publication 295)
A new project funded by the FNS (200021-140827), entitled Fish response to long-term global changesstarted in September 2012.
-Dr Guillaume Guinot, (post-doc at the Geneva Museum, FNS)
-Dr Matt Friedman, Oxford University, UK
-Dr Graeme Llyod, Oxford University, UK
-Dr Sylvain Adnet, University of Montpellier, France
-Dr Henri Cappetta, University of Montpellier, France
Selection of publications
Cavin, L. & Guinot, G. 2014. Coelacanths as “almost living fossils”. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 2:49. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2014.00049
Guinot, G., Adnet, S., Cavin, L. & Capetta, H. 2013. Cretaceous stem chondricthyans survived the end-Permian mass extinction. Nature Communications 4: 2669 doi: DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3669
Cavin, L. & Kemp, 2011. A. The impact of fossils on the evolutionary distinctiveness and conservation status of the Australian lungfish. Biological Conservation 144: 3140-3142. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2011.08.014
Cavin, L. 2010. On Giant Filter Feeders. Science 327: 968-969. doi: 10.1126/science.1186904
Cavin, L. 2010. The Late Jurassic ray-finned fish peak of diversity: biological radiation or preservational bias? Pp. 111-121. In: (Nelson, J. S., Schultze, H.-P. & Wilson M.V.H. (eds.) Origin and phylogenetic interrelationships of teleosts Honoring Gloria Arratia. Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München.
Cavin, L. 2008. Palaeobiogeography of Cretaceous Bony Fishes (Actinistia, Dipnoi and Actinopterygii). In: Cavin, L., Longbottom, A. & Richter, M. (eds). Fishes and the breakup of Pangaea. Geological Society of London, Special Publication 295: 165-183. doi: 10.1144/SP295.11
Cavin, L. & Forey, P.L. 2007. Using ghost lineages to identify diversification events in the fossil record l. Biology Letters 3: 201-204. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2006.0602.
Cavin, L., Forey, P.L. & Lecuyer, C. 2007. Correlation between environment and Late Mesozoic ray-finned fish evolution. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 245: 353-367. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2006.08.010
Cavin, L. 2001. Effects of the Cretaceous-Tertiary event on bony fishes: 141-158. In: Buffetaut, E. & Koeberl, C. (Eds.) Geological and Biological Effects of Impact Events, Springer Verlag.
Osteology and phylogeny of Jurassic and Cretaceous actinops and sarcops
Since 1995, I have described the osteology and studied the phylogeny of various groups of Mesozoic bony fishes (pachyrhizodontids, ichthyodectiforms, semionotiforms). These works are generally done in collaboration with colleagues based worldwide (Switzerland, France, Greece, UK, Mexico, Libya, Slovenia, Romania, etc.).
Selection of publications
Cavin, L. Forey, P.L. & Giersch, S. 2012. Osteology of Eubiodectes libanicus (Pictet & Humbert, 1866) and some other ichthyodectiformes (Teleostei): phylogenetic implications. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2012.691559
Cavin, L. & Giner, S. A large halecomorph fish (Actinopterygii: Holostei) from the Valanginian (Early Cretaceous) of southeast France. Cretaceous Research http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667112000596
Cavin, L. 2010. Diversity of Mesozoic semionotiform fishes and the origin of gars (Lepisosteidae). Naturwissenschaften. doi: 10.1007/s00114-010-0722-7
Cavin, L., Forey, P.L., Buffetaut, E. & Tong, H. 2005. Latest European coelacanth shows Gondwanan affinities. Biology Letters. 2005 (1): 176-177. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.200. 4.0287
Cavin, L., Bardet, N., Cappetta, H., Gheerbrant, E., Iarochene, S.M. & Sudre, J. 2000. A new albulid (Teleostei: Elopomorpha) from the Paleocene of the Ouled Abdoun phosphatic bassin, Morocco. Geological Magazine 137 (5): 583-591. doi: 10.1017/S0016756800004647
Cavin, L., Jurkovsek, B. & Kolar-Jurkovsek, T. 2000. Succession of fish assemblages in the Upper Cretaceous of the Trieste-Komen Plateau, Slovenia. Geologija 43 (2): 161-304.
Picot, L., Becker, D., Cavin, L., Pirkenseer, C., Lapaire, F., Rauber, G., Hochuli, P.A., Spezzaferri, S. & Berger, J.-P. 2008. Sédimentologie et paléontologie des paléoenvironnements côtiers rupéliens de la Molasse marine rhénane dans le Jura suisse. Swiss Journal of Geosciences 98 (2005) 281-296. doi: 10.1007/s00015-008-1275-z.
History of palaeontology
I am interested in the history of palaeontology, in particular through its relationships of incipient evolutionary theories in the 19th century.
Cavin, L. 2013. Ces si étranges poissons de pierre. L’Alpe, Des Scientifiques dans la montagne : 18-23.
Cavin, L. 2009. Darwin et les fossiles: histoire d'une réconciliation. Editions Georg, 236 pp.
Cavin, L. & Vallotton, L. 2009. Comment Darwin s'est transformé en singe. EspacesTemps.net, Actuel, 01.09.2009 http://espacestemps.net/document7886.html
T +41 22 418 63 46
- Convenor of the Pliensbachian working group since 1996 and Voting Member of the International Subcommission on Jurassic Stratigraphy (ISJS), part of the International commission on Stratigraphy (ICS).
- Director of publication for theRevue de Paléobiologie , Geneva, Switzerland (1994-2012)
-Member of the Editorial Board of Geobios (Elsevier), Lyon, France since 1996 and of Volumina Jurassica, Warsaw, Poland since 2007.
Liassic Ammonites (Early Jurassic): paleontology, biostratigraphy), palaeogeography, evolution and sequential stratigraphy
This research topic aims at better understanding the worldwide radiation of the ammonites (cephalopods) in the Early Jurassic (182 to 201 millions years) after their almost complete extinction at the end of the Triassic. This project is the continuation of previous studies conducted in the Mediterranean Tethys and neighbouring areas since 1982: Yorkshire, Dorset (UK), NW Germany, Causses Basin, Bourgogne (France), Lusitanian Basin and Algarve (Portugal), Jura (Switzerland, France), Alps (France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria), Western Carpathians (Slovakia), Apennines (Italy), Mescek, Villany, Bakony (Hungary), Stara Planina (Bulgaria), Ionian Region (Albania, Greece), Pontides and Tauride (Turkey), High-Atlas (Marocco), Tunisian dorsal, in Asia (Japan, Vietnam, New-Caledonia) and in Central and South America (Mexico, Equateur, Argentina). The results deal with various aspects of geology and palaeontology, such as regional geology, taxonomy, ontogeny, evolution, biostratigraphy, palaeogeography (faunal transgression, endemism, etc), palinspastic reconstructions, palaeoecology (relationships between ammonite shells and marine environment) and sequential stratigraphy (references in annex).
-Dr J.-L. Dommergues, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
-Prof Rogério B. Rocha, Universidade Nova Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
-Dr Joachim Blau, Rodheim, Germany
-Prof Alberto C. Riccardi, Museo e Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina
-Dr Jan Schlögl, Université Comenius, Bratislava, Slovakia
-Dr Kentaro Nakada, Mizuta Memorial Museum, 3-26, Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0094, Japan
-Dr Paolo Schirolli, Museo di Scienze Naturali di Brescia, Italy.
Ammonites from the Cretaceous of Western Africa (Niger, Nigeria, Moroco, Tunisia, Gabon, Angola)
This projects deals with a palaeontological revision of ammonites in relation to the trans-Saharan transgression in the Cenomano-Turonian, ca 91 millions years ago, as well as with a better understanding of the biostratigraphy of these regions. The Benoue intracratonic basin (Nigeria) allowed marine connections between Saharian plateforms in the North (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Niger) and the margin of the Oceanic slope in the south (Nigeria, Guinean Gulf, Gabon, Angola) at the time of the highest transgressive phase of the Cenomano-Turonian time interval.
-Dr Hassen Abdallah, Centre de Recherches et des Technologies de l'Energie, Technopole Borj Cédria, BP 95, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia.
-Dr Madani Benyoucef: Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Département des Sciences de la Terre et de l’Univers, Université de Mascara, Algeria.
-Dr André Piuz, Muséum de Genève, Genveva, Swizterland.
Research officer (50%)
T +41 22 418 63 65
Micropalaeontological assemblages of the Cenomanian-Turonian shelf in south-east Morocco and Oman
On the southern margin of the Cretaceous Tethys Ocean, the Moroccan sedimentary series of the Kem Kem and of the south-east of the High Atlas are known for their abundant macrofossils (ammonites, fishes, crocodiles, turtles, dinosaurs, pterosaurs, etc.). The sedimentological, palaeoenvironmental and stratigraphical context of these discoveries has however often been neglected. The aim of this study is to specify, using microfaunas and microfacies, the ages and environmental changes that occurred during the Cenomanian-Turonian transsaharan transgression. Thousand km eastward, in Oman, sections across a contemporaneous part of the Arabian shelf, around the Adam foothills (south of the Oman Mountain), reveal different palaeoenvironements with diverse facies and micropalaeontological assemblages. They are compared with the Moroccan series. The main microfossils encountered in the thin sections are foraminifers, algae, echinoderms, ostracods, serpulids, (micro) gastropods, stromatoporoids and corals. Collaboration: L. Cavin (Vertebrates), C. Meister (Ammonites), R. Wernli (Micropalaeontology, Geneva University).
Microfloras and microfaunas of lacustrine actual and sub-actual sediments of Leman lake
Lacustrine microfloras and microfaunas of recent sediment of the Leman Lake are very diversified and remarkable as much for their sensitivity to (paleo) ecological conditions than for their exceptional aesthetics. Repartition of diatoms (V. Berthon, F. Rimet, Inra Thonon; A. Cordonnier, S. Lavigne, Etat de Genève) and testate amoebae (E. Mitchell, Neuchâtel University) are the main microorganisms is inventoried along a core extracted in the recent sediments of the Corsier bay.
-Département de géologie et paléontologie, University of Geneva (Roland Wernli), micropalaeontology
-Inra-Carrtel, Thonon, France, (Vincent Berthon, Frederic Rimet), diatoms
-Service cantonal de l'écologie de l'eau, Geneva State, Swizerland (Arielle Cordonier, Sophie Lavigne), diatoms
-Laboratoire de biologie du Sol, University of Neuchatel, Switzerland(Edward Mitchell), thcamoebians
-Institut Forel, University of Geneva, Switzerland, (Daniel Ariztegui), limnology
-Vieux Emosson "Dinosaur footprints" animation in Valais, since 2005
- Museum's guided tour "Earth history" since 2006.
-Nuit de la Science: participation since 2000.
-Museum's Thursday animation about "dinosaur footprints" (2005), "past biodiversity (2006 & 2007) and "working as a palaeontologist" (2012).
-Geneva's freshwater plankton: Posters showing the invisible world of (phyto and zoo) plankton revealed with different microscopes. Exhibition of some freshwater microfaunas and microfloras found in the Geneva area with a text about their importance, aestheticism, nuisance and preservation. The aim of the posters is to show the role and aestheticism of these usually invisible microorganisms, which are present in the rivers and ponds of the canton Geneva, as well as in the Leman Lake. Collaboration: A. Cordonier and S. Lavigne (Geneva State)
André Piuz works half-time for the Laboratory of scientific analysis and imagery of the Museum.
Scientific assistant (50%)
T +41 22 418 63 95
I participate to the project conducted in the department, in particular by doing thin slabs (collaboration with André Piuz) and by doing mechanical and chemical preparations of fossils (collaboration with Lionel Cavin).
I contribute to the research program conducted in Triassic deposits in Valais, among others.
I manage the external inquiries (determinations, etc.), the indoors and outdoors events, and participate to the management of the collections.
I also work half-time for the Department of Mineralogy and Petrography of the Museum.
Postdoc researcher, FNST + 41 22 418 63 34
F + 41 22 418 63 01
My research activities focus on the paleobiology, the systematics, the evolution and the faunal assemblages of Mesozoic reptiles.
Sauropod dinosaurs of the Early and Middle Jurassic
This thematic focus on paleobiology, evolutionary history and systematics of Early and Middle Jurassic sauropod dinosaurs, epoch still misunderstood, and on the paleobiogeographical implications of these specimens (enhancement of heritage and research collections, international collaborations).
I am interested in reconsidering the phylogeny of this group (problem about the cladistic coding) and I propose a new hypothesis of the neosauropod radiation at the beginning of the Middle Jurassic, just after the Pliensbachian-Toarcian biological crisis, in the context of the opening of the Tethys.
-Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, France
-Maison du Fossile, Lion-sur-Mer, France
-Field missions in Algeria in collaboration and funded by the Sonatrach company (2005-2010)
Vertebrate assemblages in Mid-Cretaceous North Africa (FNS grant: 200021_129923)
For this project, I study the reptilian assemblages from the Mid-Cretaceous of North Africa, notably in order to better understand the peculiar ecological features of the vertebrate fauna of the "Continental intercalaire", taking into account the main biotic and abiotic components. Indeed, this paleoecosystem shows a very wide geographical spread (like anything in the fossil or Recent record) and extreme climatic conditions linked to a global warming and a major greenhouse. Relationships with South American paleoecosystems (in Brazil and Argentina) are also studied in the context of the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean.
-Museum, Geneva, Switzerland (Dr. L. Cavin)
-University of Geneva, Swizterland(Pr. E. Samankassou, L. Maio)
-Faculté des Sciences et Techniques d'Errachidia, Morocco (Pr. L. Boudad)
-Musée des Dinosaures, Espéraza, France (Dr. H. Tong, Dr. J. Le Loeuff)
-Musée d'histoire naturelle, Elbeuf, France (Dr. J. Tabouelle)
-Paleoecosystems and paleogeography of Triassic and Jurassic reptilian fauna in South Gondwana (Madagascar and south of Africa)
-Paleobiodiversity, ichnology, and paleogeographical implications of Triassic and Jurassic reptilian fauna in Europe.
Postdoc researcher, FNST + 41 22 418 63 22
F + 41 22 418 63 01
My research interests focus on the macroevolution of chondrichthyans on the basis of their fossil remains. These cartilaginous fishes are known from over 400 myrs and have developed a vast range of modes of life, reproduction and predation strategies. The Mesozoic Era is of particular interest as this includes the rise of modern sharks, skates and rays (neoselachians) as well as numerous radiations and diversifications within chondrichthyans. To a greater extent, diversification and extinction patterns, phylogenetic relationships as well as relationships between faunal characteristics and palaeoenvironmental factors among marine vertebrates are part of my main research interests.
Fish response to long-term global changes
This research consists of a global approach to various aspects of diversification and response of fishes (chondrichthyans and actinopterygians) to past environmental modifications. This project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF: 200021-140827) aims to identify the various diversification events that marked the fish evolutionary history over a time interval of 100 myrs (late Jurassic – mid Eocene). Assessment of the quality of the fish fossil record, estimation of the evolutionary history of these groups and potential links between palaeoenvironmental factors and diversity events are the main points this project focuses on.
-Dr. L. Cavin (Museum of Geneva, Switzerland)
-Dr. M. Friedman (Oxford University, UK)
-Dr. G. Lloyd (Oxford University, UK)
-Dr. S. Adnet (Université Montpellier 2, France)
-Dr. H. Cappetta (Université Montpellier 2, France)
Mesozoic chondrichthyan systematics and taxonomy
The study of evolutionary patterns within chondrichthyans mainly rests on the analysis of their fossil record. It is thus necessary to better understand the geographic and stratigraphic distributions of this group, as these data represent the starting point of any other analyses (palaeobiodiversity, palaeoecology). This research is mainly based on fieldwork, sampling of fossil chondrichthyan assemblages and study of fossil skeletons. My PhD and other works focused on Cretaceous chondrichthyan faunas from Western Europe. Other studies are currently being developed.
-Dr. S. Adnet (Université Montpellier 2, France)
-Dr. H. Cappetta (Université Montpellier 2, France)
-Dr. R. Vullo (Université de Rennes 1, France)
-Dr. C.J. Underwood (University of London, UK)
-D.J. Ward (NHM, London, UK).
Tooth Enameloid Microstructure
Tooth enameloid microstructure is generally used to differentiate modern shark dental remains from those belonging to other related groups (e.g. batoids, hybodonts). However, the tooth enameloid microstructure of only a few chondrichthyan taxa has been explored. Recent advances showed that the distribution of tooth enameloid structures among cartilaginous fishes is still unclear (especially within stem chondrichthyans and batoids) and appears more complex than previously thought. Yet, the exploration of the diversity, distribution, developmental patterns and function of these structures may prove to provide significant systematic, phylogenetic and morpho-functional outcomes.
-Dr. S. Adnet (Université Montpellier 2, France)
-Dr. G. Cuny (Natural History Museum of Denmark)
-S. Enault (Université Montpellier 2, France)
-Dr. M. Debiais-Thibaud (Université Montpellier 2, France)