denticulates

Denticulates are structures that bear small tooth-like projections, or denticles. The term is used across disciplines to describe margins, surfaces, or organ surfaces where many tiny projections resemble teeth but are minute in size. The root comes from Latin dens, tooth, with diminutive -iculus, and the form is often used as an adjective (denticulated) or a plural noun in morphological descriptions.

In botany, denticulate margins describe leaves whose edges carry numerous small teeth; these teeth are typically finer than those seen on dentate margins and may be blunt or pointed. In zoology, the concept appears in references to dermal denticles—small tooth-like scales on the skin of some fishes such as sharks and rays—which influence hydrodynamics and protection. The term can also describe minute projections on insect exoskeletons or other small invertebrates where a sculptured surface affects texture or sensory function.

In paleontology and comparative morphology, denticulates are noted as micro-ornamentation on shells, carapaces, or other hard parts. They are descriptive rather than taxonomic, helping to characterize specimens and compare taxa.

Related terms include denticle, dentate, and serration.