In Depth
While only known from teeth, Uatchitodon is still a very interesting genus as at the time of writing it is the earliest known venomous reptile. The teeth of Uatchitodon are recurved and serrated, perfect for slicing through flesh, but grooves in the teeth seem to be for the transference of salivary venom from glands in the jaw. Indeed, comparison to known venomous reptiles that we know today bears a very strong resemblance in tooth form and function. So far the teeth of U. schneideri seem to be most similar to those of snakes, while U. kroehleri are more similar to those of the gila monster.
Further Reading
- Venom-conducting teeth in a Triassic reptile. - Nature 351 (6322): 141–143. - Hans-Dieter Sues - 1991. - A reptilian tooth with apparent venom canals from the Chinle Group (Upper Triassic) of Arizona. - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 16 (3): 571–572. - Hans-Dieter Sues - 1996. - Grooves to tubes: evolution of the venom delivery system in a Late Triassic “reptile”. - Naturwissenschaften 97 (12): 1117–1121. - J. S. Mitchell, A. B. Heckert & H.-D. Sues - 2010.
