The Origin of Vertebrate Teeth and Evolution of Sensory Exoskeletons

The origin of vertebrate teeth and evolution of sensory exoskeletons

The earliest record of tooth antecedents and the tissue dentine1,2, an early-vertebrate novelty, has been controversially represented by fragmentary Cambrian fossils identified as Anatolepis heintzi3–5. Anatolepis exoskeletons have the characteristic tubules of dentine that prompted their interpretation as the first precursors of teeth3, known as odontodes. Debates over whether Anatolepis is a legitimate vertebrate6–8 have arisen because of limi…

Have Sensitive Teeth? Scientists Say They May Have Evolved to Feel—Not Chew

Imagine if your teeth were outside your mouth. Weird, right? Well, for our ancient fish ancestors, they were.

Did our teeth evolve from the outside in? New fossil discovery reveals all

Could the teeth inside our mouths really have originated as sensory organs on the coarse, bumpy skin of our distant, ancient fish ancestors?An X-Ray image of a little skate with tooth-like odontodes indicated (od). Credit: Haridy, Y., et al, 2025.Fossil evidence suggests that our teeth were derived from external sensory structures on the armour of ancient fish. Postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Yara Haridy (PhD), originally set out to find out what t…

Dentin, the inner layer of teeth that transmits impulses to the nerves inside the pulp, may have its origins in the sensory tissue of ancient armored fish. This, in turn, could explain the sensitivity of teeth. Scientists have recently come to such conclusions.