Odontodes, or dermal teeth, are hard structures found on the external surfaces of animals or near internal openings. They are comprised of a soft pulp surrounded by dentine and covered by a mineralized substance such as enamel, a structure similar to that of teeth.^[1] They generally do not have the same function as teeth, and are not replaced the same way teeth are in most fish.^[2] In some animals (notably catfish) the presence or size of odontodes can be used in determining the sex.^[3]

The name comes from the Greek "odon"" meaning tooth; a similarly name subject are the Class of animals known as Conodonts ("cone teeth") which were first known from their fossilised primitive teeth, http://www.em-consulte.com/article/189295/auto.

See also Dermal denticle

[edit] Images

A New Species of Hisonotus (Siluriformes,Loricariidae) of the Upper Rı´o Uruguay Basin (see page 7) An article showing scanning electron microscope images of odontodes on a catfish. Author:Adriana E. Aquino, Scott A. Schaefer, Amalia M. Miquelarena. Publisher: The American Museum of Natural History.

[edit] References

1. ^ "Paleos Vertebrates: Glossary". http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Lists/Glossary/GlossaryO.html. 
2. ^ "Evolution of development of the vertebrate dermal and oral skeletons: Unraveling concepts, regulatory theories, and homologies". http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4067/is_200210/ai_n9111235/pg_10. 
3. ^ "Sexual Dimorphism of the “Zebra Pleco” Hypancistrus zebra". http://www.plecofanatics.com/forum/index.php?page=sexing_zebra_pleco. 

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