Vertical Prism Decussation of Teleoceras (Rhinocerotidae) Molar

抄録

Most mammals possess microstructural decussation in the tooth enamel. The HunterSchreger bands(HSB)are the important microstructure created by differently directed enamel prisms, as observed under a reflective light microscope. The prism decussation of some rhinocerotoids reveals that HSB run vertically along the axis of the tooth. The boundary between the bands is definite in the tangential section. Teleoceras is an extinct rhinocerotoid that was commonly found in the Miocene area of North America. Our observations revealed vertical prism decussation in the inner two-thirds to four-fifths of the Teleoceras molar enamel. The prisms strongly twisted on each axis, and the path of each prism undulated at the border of the bands. Their relative relations revealed inclinational changes and displacement to the adjacent zone of the HSB. Reconstructed threedimensional images were used for complementation of microscopic observations.