Odontography

work by Owen

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July 15, 2026

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Odontography is a significant work by the British anatomist and paleontologist Richard Owen. Published between 1840 and 1845, Odontography is a major study focused on the structure of teeth. Owen was a prominent figure in 19th-century science, known for his work on fossil animals, including dinosaurs, and for his opposition to Charles Darwin's theories.

The term "odontology" itself refers to the science dealing with teeth, their structure, development, and diseases. Separately, an "odontograph" is an instrument used for marking or laying out the outlines of gear teeth.12

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Richard Owen
Among Owen’s notable writings are Odontography (1840–45), a major study of the structure of teeth; Lectures on Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Vertebrate Animals (1846); A History of British Fossil Mammals and Birds (1846); A History of British Fossil Reptiles (1849–84); and On the Anatomy of Vertebrates (1866–68).
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Among Owen’s notable writings are Odontography (1840–45), a major study of the structure of teeth; Lectures on Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Vertebrate Animals (1846); A History of British Fossil Mammals and Birds (1846); A History of British Fossil Reptiles (1849–84); and On the Anatomy of Vertebrates (1866–68).
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