Denticlecontaining

Denticlecontaining is an adjective used in biology and paleontology to describe organisms, tissues, or fossils that bear denticles—small, tooth-like projections on a surface. The term emphasizes the presence of these microscopic or macroscopic denticle structures rather than a smooth or featureless exterior.

In living organisms, denticles commonly occur on the skin of sharks and other cartilaginous fishes, where dermal denticles reduce drag, protect the skin, and influence hydrodynamic performance. Denticle-containing skin can also be found in some extinct jawed vertebrates, where fossilized or preserved skin impressions reveal denticle impressions or intact denticles on scales, plates, or armor. The denticles themselves are typically composed of dentin and enamel-like material, and their microstructure can be studied with high-resolution imaging.

In paleontological descriptions, labeling a specimen as denticle-containing alerts researchers to the presence of dermal denticles on its surface, which can be diagnostic for taxonomy, phylogeny, or functional interpretation. Denticle patterns, densities, shapes, and orientations may vary between taxa and developmental stages, providing a source of comparative data. Preservation of denticles in fossils depends on taphonomic conditions and can range from well-preserved skin impressions to partial or fragmented denticle imprints.

Techniques used to study denticle-containing surfaces include scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography, which reveal external morphology and internal microstructure such as enameloid layers and dentinal bases. Although the term is descriptive rather than a strict scientific category, denticle-containing descriptions help standardize notes about surface anatomy across living and extinct vertebrates.