{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,26]],"date-time":"2026-02-26T15:13:03Z","timestamp":1772118783583,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,22]],"date-time":"2023-08-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1692662400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100007142","name":"Idea Wild","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100007142","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Journal of Morphology"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    The histology and growth of reptilian and crocodilian claws (ungues) have been extensively studied; however, Nile crocodile (\n                    <jats:italic>Crocodylus niloticus<\/jats:italic>\n                    ) claws have not received adequate attention. Furthermore, age estimations for reptilian claws remain unexplored, despite Nile crocodile claws being used in long\u2010term dietary reconstruction studies, assuming certain age\u2010related patterns. In this study, we investigate the histology and growth patterns of Nile crocodile claws, aiming to infer axes for sampling cornified material for radiocarbon dating and establish age estimations for crocodilian claws. Our findings reveal that Nile crocodile claws exhibit growth patterns similar to other reptilians, presenting as modified scutes\/scales with an age profile along the sagittal plane. This profile starts at the basal germ matrix and progressively expands in thickness and age dorsoventrally towards the apex or \u201ctip.\u201d Consequently, the oldest corneous material is concentrated at the most dorsal point of the claw's apex. To validate previous dietary reconstruction assumptions, we conducted radiocarbon dating on this region of the claw, which supported the idea that retained corneous material in the claws is typically relatively young (5\u201310 years old) due to abrasion. Our study contributes insights into the histology and growth dynamics of Nile crocodile claws, shedding light on their use in dietary reconstruction studies and emphasizing the significance of considering age\u2010related assumptions in such investigations.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/jmor.21634","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,22]],"date-time":"2023-08-22T05:21:12Z","timestamp":1692681672000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["The histology and growth rate of Nile crocodile (\n                    <i>Crocodylus niloticus<\/i>\n                    ) claws"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"284","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6891-1893","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Albert","family":"Myburgh","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu\u2010Natal Pietermaritzburg South Africa"},{"name":"Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria  Pretoria South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2132-7251","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jan","family":"Myburgh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria  Pretoria South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5940-6799","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Johan","family":"Steyl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria  Pretoria South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8334-1510","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Colleen T.","family":"Downs","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu\u2010Natal Pietermaritzburg South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6870-5494","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hannes","family":"Botha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Scientific Services Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency Nelspruit South Africa"},{"name":"Department of Biodiversity University of Limpopo  Polokwane Limpopo South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0549-7824","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Liam","family":"Robinson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Oral Pathology and Oral Biology Department University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8573-8626","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stephan","family":"Woodborne","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"iThemba LABS  Cape Town South Africa"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_9_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1469\u20107580.1998.19220173.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1163\/18759866-07801003"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1463-6395.2009.00403.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/jez.b.22689"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/ar.24515"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1469-7580.2002.00075.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_8_1","volume-title":"Techniques","author":"Bancroft J. 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