RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: comparative study of palatine teeth

Hmmm... I did a quick search for this (online and in the literature here) because it rings a bell with me too, but couldn't find it yet. Will keep looking though. It wasn't Clarke, was it... ?
 
So... anybody taken up Steve's offer yet? Surely somebody out there is mildly interested in giving up his/her social life to compose a comparative morphology of palatine teeth in cephalopods?
 
Hmmmmmm. Nope, nobody has taken us up on the offer yet - shame really - would be truly sensational research. I have had one person inquire, saying could they do a similar project in the US using US collections. I said 'for sure', but can't remember if I've heard back.

What's a 'cranchiid squid'? That's actually a very good question, that might sound a little stupid (but isn't)! Generally they're rather transparent, large-eyed, thin-walled squid that can or might not have hooks on the arms or tentacle clubs. The mantle is actually fused to the head in 3 places - the two ventral mantle-and-funnel-locking cartilages are actually fused together, as is the dorsal surface of the 'neck', where the nuchal cartilage would be in other types of squid (in other squid the mantle and funnel-locking, and nuchal cartilages are not fused together - they take the form of a ridge that fits into and slides along an opposing groove). There'll be a more precise definition online (try TOL) - I've only given a generalisation here.
Me
 
o....YET, does it mean I could join? Please.....I would really really love to see what you poeple do at NZ or whereever you work at....who knows, I might be the next apprentice.... :lol:
 
interested in research

Steve O'Shea said:
I'm taking a huge gamble in placing these images online. An ever-so-slighty exciting opportunity exists for someone to research comparative morphology of palatine teeth in cephalopods, both octopus and squid, linking this to diet, and describing ontogenetic shifts in their structure (in accordance with changes in diet throughout a species life cycle).

No project of this nature has ever been undertaken before; it is a world first.

I've attached a few 'modified' images here (some duplicated in Fossils & History, in a thread titled 'Challenge') to show you what you can expect to see with SEM microscopy (similar images, although not as detailed, can be obtained with light microscopy).

I am certain the shape and distribution of these radular-like structures is of both systematic and ecological significance. The project would involve describing these structures across all cephalopod taxa that we have here (very diverse collections), and examination of squid stomach contents, to ascertain any link between their density, form and distribution and the squid's diet.

Exciting stuff!! Suitable for Masters (if you have some experience) or PhD.

Just a selection of pics follow.

The first image is of the buccal mass, with beaks and beak musculature removed (of the arrow squid, Nototodarus). The radula is pretty obvious, below the salivary papilla. Running down, either side of the buccal mass are the palatine palps, upon the inner face of which you will see dagger-like projections (the palatine teeth). The other two images are close ups of these palatine and true radular teeth in two taxa (a rather large, unknown species of squid; and Nototodarus). They also occur in some species of 'octopus', Vampyroteuthis and most all other octopus and squid taxa (in fact their absence is extremely interesting, and must reflect some specialised diet).

An additional radular-like tooth is sometimes found in the salivary papilla of hole-drilling octopus species; there's so much that we haven't looked at in octopus and squid systematics; the world is your oyster!
h
hi i am keenly interested to join it :smile:
 
HI ,I am in australia keenly interested to join. i had my masters in zoology with my speciliazation in fish fisheries and fresh water ecology.plz contact me on my id. i am sending you my resume.plz have a look.
 
Hi Upasana

Thanks for that; I'll contact you via pm shortly. I've edited your first post to remove your CV (a strange thing to post online).
Kindest
Steve
 
I will be looking for a co-op placement come january, am studying biology at University of Waterloo (scince and business spec. biology), and have experience studying marine biology through Ocean Educations. Also very enthusiastic. please email me at [email protected] if you are still looking..... i saw a couple threads for this so i wil post this on all because i want this so badly :biggrin2:
 
Ceph fan said:
I will be looking for a co-op placement come january, am studying biology at University of Waterloo (scince and business spec. biology), and have experience studying marine biology through Ocean Educations. Also very enthusiastic. please email me at [email protected] if you are still looking..... i saw a couple threads for this so i wil post this on all because i want this so badly :biggrin2:

If you don't get any reply from "The Man" then i can only advise to PM him directly. Good luck :wink:

TPOTH
 
Like I've said before, Steve... This is a hell of an ambitious project. Let me see what I can do to help as well. I may need some info for a senior project, and this would be kickass for both a project and as a source for your overall research. That is, if you're interested in information on Northern Hemisphere (the SWINGINGEST hemisphere :razz:) cephs.

And no one will steal this idea. If they do, we can handle them *cracks knuckles*

John
 

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