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Study Confirms Teeth Originated as Sensory Structures in Ancient Fish Armor

On May 21, 2025, researchers at the University of Chicago revealed that teeth originally developed as sensory structures embedded in the protective skin of early vertebrates living approximately 465 million years in the past.
This finding follows a detailed analysis of fossil specimens using advanced CT and synchrotron scans that clarified previous confusion about early vertebrates and invertebrates.
The study showed that structures called odontodes, which contained dentine and nerves, initially served to detect water conditions rather than for chewing or defense.
Lead author Yara Haridy explained that teeth can function as sensory organs even when located outside the mouth, while senior author Neil Shubin emphasized that detecting characteristics of the surrounding water was crucial for survival in a challenging predatory environment.
These insights suggest that sensory tissue preceded oral teeth, refining the timeline of vertebrate evolution and supporting the theory that teeth evolved from external sensory structures.

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Science Daily

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The University of Chicago

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Toothache from eating something cold? Blame these ancient fish

New research shows that dentine, the inner layer of teeth that transmits sensory information to nerves inside the pulp, first evolved as sensory tissue in the armored exoskeletons of ancient fish.

21 hours ago·United States

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abc 7 Chicago

Center

University of Chicago study finds tooth sensitivity may be linked to ancient fish

If you've ever gotten a toothache from eating something cold like ice cream, scientists at the University of Chicago might have discovered the reason why.

2 days ago·Chicago, United States

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Live Science

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Verve times

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Our teeth evolved from fish 'body armor' over 460 million years, scientists discover

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2 days ago·United States

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CNN

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Bumps on ancient, armored fish may have given rise to teeth in animals, study finds

Sensory features on the armored exoskeletons of ancient fish may be the reason why humans have teeth that are sensitive to cold and other extremes.

2 days ago·Atlanta, United States

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NDTV

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Teeth Hurt? It Could Be Because Of A 500-Million-Year-Old Fish

Ever wondered why our teeth are so sensitive to pain or even just cold drinks? It might be because they first evolved for a very different purpose than chewing half a billion years ago, a study suggested Wednesday.

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