Acrodonty (from Greek akros 'highest'[1] + odont- 'tooth') is an anatomical placement of the teeth at the summit of the alveolar ridge of the jaw, without sockets,[2] characteristic of bony fish. Functionally, acrodont tooth implantation may be related to greater bite force.[3] However, this result is not supported when size and phylogeny is taken into account.[4]
Acrodonty in the Animal Kingdom
Squamata: Within squamate reptiles, acrodont tooth implantation is best known in Acrodonta and some species of amphisbaenians, though some snakes are also referred to as being acrodont. Acrodonta is unique in that the name of the clade is based upon this trait. Most other squamate reptiles have pleurodont dentition, though some snakes are occasionally described as having acrodont dentition.[5][6]
^Isip, Justin E.; Jones, Marc E. H.; Cooper, Natalie (2022-02-23). "Clade-wide variation in bite-force performance is determined primarily by size, not ecology". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 289(1969) (1969): 20212493. doi:10.1098/rspb.2021.2493. hdl:10141/622974. PMID35193399.
^Budney, Lisa A.; Caldwell, Michael W.; Albino, Adriana (2006). "Tooth socket histology in the Cretaceous snake Dinilysia, with a review of amniote dental attachment tissues". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 26 (1): 138–145. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[138:TSHITC]2.0.CO;2. JSTOR4524544. S2CID86130973.
^Damiani, Ross (2004). "Cranial anatomy and relationships of Microposaurus casei, a temnospondyl from the Middle Triassic of South Africa". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 24 (3): 533–41. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2004)024[0533:caarom]2.0.co;2.