1
|
Oliveira ÉV, Carneiro LM, Goin FJ. A new derorhynchid (Mammalia, Metatheria) from the early Eocene Itaboraí fauna of Brazil with comments on its affinities. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2021; 93:e20201554. [PMID: 34378646 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202120201554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A new early Eocene, small-sized metatherian from the Itaboraí fauna is described. The new taxon is recognized on the basis of an incomplete dentary recovered from fissure fillings in the travertine limestones from the Itaboraí Basin, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The phylogenetic analysis placed the new genus and species as the sister taxon of Derorhynchus, undescribed Derorhynchidae, and Coona plus Pauladelphys. When compared to Derorhynchus, the new taxon exhibits a shorter dentary, in which the first lower premolar is not separated from the second by a diastema, and shows second and third lower molars with subequal trigonid and talonid width (in Derorhynchus the talonids are wider than the trigonids). This new taxon shows some plesiomorphic traits when compared with the remaining derorhynchids, such as the shallower dentary (less than 1.5 mm), and conical entoconids rather than flattened in shape. The combination of very small size (~13-20g), sharp crests, tall and slender cuspids, broad talonid basins, as well as trigonid taller than the talonid is suggestive of an insectivorous diet for the new taxon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Édison Vicente Oliveira
- PPGEOC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências, Departamento de Geologia, Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Acadêmico Hélio Ramos, s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50740-530, Recife, PE, Brazil.,Paleolab, Laboratório de Paleontologia, Departamento de Geologia, Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Acadêmico Hélio Ramos, s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50740-530, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Leonardo M Carneiro
- PPGEOC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências, Departamento de Geologia, Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Acadêmico Hélio Ramos, s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50740-530, Recife, PE, Brazil.,Laboratório de Paleontologia e Paleoecologia da Sociedade de História Natural, Travessa Florêncio Augusto Chagas nº 8B, 2560-230 Torres Vedras, Portugal
| | - Francisco J Goin
- División Paleontología Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque, s/n, B1900FWA La Plata, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Beck RMD. The Skull of Epidolops ameghinoi from the Early Eocene Itaboraí Fauna, Southeastern Brazil, and the Affinities of the Extinct Marsupialiform Order Polydolopimorphia. J MAMM EVOL 2016; 24:373-414. [PMID: 29187780 PMCID: PMC5684316 DOI: 10.1007/s10914-016-9357-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The skull of the polydolopimorphian marsupialiform Epidolops ameghinoi is described in detail for the first time, based on a single well-preserved cranium and associated left and right dentaries plus additional craniodental fragments, all from the early Eocene (53–50 million year old) Itaboraí fauna in southeastern Brazil. Notable craniodental features of E. ameghinoi include absence of a masseteric process, very small maxillopalatine fenestrae, a prominent pterygoid fossa enclosed laterally by a prominent ectopterygoid crest, an absent or tiny transverse canal foramen, a simple, planar glenoid fossa, and a postglenoid foramen that is immediately posterior to the postglenoid process. Most strikingly, the floor of the hypotympanic sinus was apparently unossified, a feature found in several stem marsupials but absent in all known crown marsupials. “Type II” marsupialiform petrosals previously described from Itaboraí plausibly belong to E. ameghinoi; in published phylogenetic analyses, these petrosals fell outside (crown-clade) Marsupialia. “IMG VII” tarsals previously referred to E. ameghinoi do not share obvious synapomorphies with any crown marsupial clade, nor do they resemble those of the only other putative polydolopimorphians represented by tarsal remains, namely the argyrolagids. Most studies have placed Polydolopimorphia within Marsupialia, related to either Paucituberculata, or to Microbiotheria and Diprotodontia. However, diprotodonty almost certainly evolved independently in polydolopimorphians, paucituberculatans and diprotodontians, and Epidolops does not share obvious synapomorphies with any marsupial order. Epidolops is dentally specialized, but several morphological features appear to be more plesiomorphic than any crown marsupial. It seems likely Epidolops that falls outside Marsupialia, as do morphologically similar forms such as Bonapartherium and polydolopids. Argyrolagids differ markedly in their known morphology from Epidolops but share some potential apomorphies with paucituberculatans. It is proposed that Polydolopimorphia as currently recognised is polyphyletic, and that argyrolagids (and possibly other taxa currently included in Argyrolagoidea, such as groeberiids and patagoniids) are members of Paucituberculata. This hypothesis is supported by Bayesian non-clock phylogenetic analyses of a total evidence matrix comprising DNA sequence data from five nuclear protein-coding genes, indels, retroposon insertions, and morphological characters: Epidolops falls outside Marsupialia, whereas argyrolagids form a clade with the paucituberculatans Caenolestes and Palaeothentes, regardless of whether the Type II petrosals and IMG VII tarsals are used to score characters for Epidolops or not. There is no clear evidence for the presence of crown marsupials at Itaboraí, and it is possible that the origin and early evolution of Marsupialia was restricted to the “Austral Kingdom” (southern South America, Antarctica, and Australia).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robin M. D. Beck
- School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, M5 4WT, Manchester, UK
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Intraspecific Variation of Endocranial Structures in Extant Equus: A Prelude to Endocranial Studies in Fossil Equoids. J MAMM EVOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-015-9293-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
4
|
Billet G, de Muizon C, Schellhorn R, Ruf I, Ladevèze S, Bergqvist L. Petrosal and inner ear anatomy and allometry amongst specimens referred to Litopterna (Placentalia). Zool J Linn Soc 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Billet
- Steinmann-Institut für Geologie; Mineralogie und Paläontologie; Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn; Nussallee 8 53115 Bonn Germany
- CR2P - UMR 7207 CNRS; MNHN; Univ Paris 06 - Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; 8 rue Buffon CP 38 75005 Paris France
| | - Christian de Muizon
- CR2P - UMR 7207 CNRS; MNHN; Univ Paris 06 - Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; 8 rue Buffon CP 38 75005 Paris France
| | - Rico Schellhorn
- Steinmann-Institut für Geologie; Mineralogie und Paläontologie; Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn; Nussallee 8 53115 Bonn Germany
| | - Irina Ruf
- Steinmann-Institut für Geologie; Mineralogie und Paläontologie; Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn; Nussallee 8 53115 Bonn Germany
- Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt; Abteilung Paläoanthropologie und Messelforschung; Senckenberganlage 25 60325 Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Sandrine Ladevèze
- CR2P - UMR 7207 CNRS; MNHN; Univ Paris 06 - Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; 8 rue Buffon CP 38 75005 Paris France
| | - Lilian Bergqvist
- Avenida Athos da Silveira Ramos; 274, bloco G; Centro de Ciências Matemáticas e da Natureza; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Rio de Janeiro 21941-916 Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Comparative Anatomy of the Petrosal Bone of Dichobunoids, Early Members of Artiodactylamorpha (Mammalia). J MAMM EVOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-014-9254-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
6
|
Beck RMD, Travouillon KJ, Aplin KP, Godthelp H, Archer M. The Osteology and Systematics of the Enigmatic Australian Oligo-Miocene Metatherian Yalkaparidon (Yalkaparidontidae; Yalkaparidontia; ?Australidelphia; Marsupialia). J MAMM EVOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-013-9236-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
7
|
Ekdale EG. Comparative Anatomy of the Bony Labyrinth (Inner Ear) of Placental Mammals. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66624. [PMID: 23805251 PMCID: PMC3689836 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Variation is a naturally occurring phenomenon that is observable at all levels of morphology, from anatomical variations of DNA molecules to gross variations between whole organisms. The structure of the otic region is no exception. The present paper documents the broad morphological diversity exhibited by the inner ear region of placental mammals using digital endocasts constructed from high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (CT). Descriptions cover the major placental clades, and linear, angular, and volumetric dimensions are reported. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The size of the labyrinth is correlated to the overall body mass of individuals, such that large bodied mammals have absolutely larger labyrinths. The ratio between the average arc radius of curvature of the three semicircular canals and body mass of aquatic species is substantially lower than the ratios of related terrestrial taxa, and the volume percentage of the vestibular apparatus of aquatic mammals tends to be less than that calculated for terrestrial species. Aspects of the bony labyrinth are phylogenetically informative, including vestibular reduction in Cetacea, a tall cochlear spiral in caviomorph rodents, a low position of the plane of the lateral semicircular canal compared to the posterior canal in Cetacea and Carnivora, and a low cochlear aspect ratio in Primatomorpha. SIGNIFICANCE The morphological descriptions that are presented add a broad baseline of anatomy of the inner ear across many placental mammal clades, for many of which the structure of the bony labyrinth is largely unknown. The data included here complement the growing body of literature on the physiological and phylogenetic significance of bony labyrinth structures in mammals, and they serve as a source of data for future studies on the evolution and function of the vertebrate ear.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric G. Ekdale
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Department of Paleontology, San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
LUO ZHEXI, RUF IRINA, MARTIN THOMAS. The petrosal and inner ear of the Late Jurassic cladotherian mammalDryolestes leiriensisand implications for ear evolution in therian mammals. Zool J Linn Soc 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00852.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
9
|
Beck RMD. An ‘ameridelphian’ marsupial from the early Eocene of Australia supports a complex model of Southern Hemisphere marsupial biogeography. THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 2012; 99:715-29. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-012-0953-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2012] [Revised: 07/17/2012] [Accepted: 07/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
10
|
Luo ZX, Ruf I, Schultz JA, Martin T. Fossil evidence on evolution of inner ear cochlea in Jurassic mammals. Proc Biol Sci 2010; 278:28-34. [PMID: 20667879 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2010.1148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The coiled cochlea is a key evolutionary innovation of modern therian mammals. We report that the Late Jurassic mammal Dryolestes, a relative to modern therians, has derived bony characteristics of therian-like innervation, but its uncoiled cochlear canal is less derived than the coiled cochlea of modern therians. This suggests a therian-like innervation evolved before the fully coiled cochlea in phylogeny. The embryogenesis of the cochlear nerve and ganglion in the inner ear of mice is now known to be patterned by neurogenic genes, which we hypothesize to have influenced the formation of the auditory nerve and its ganglion in Jurassic therian evolution, as shown by their osteological correlates in Dryolestes, and by the similar base-to-apex progression in morphogenesis of the ganglion in mice, and in transformation of its canal in phylogeny. The cochlear innervation in Dryolestes is the precursory condition in the curve-to-coil transformation of the cochlea in mammalian phylogeny. This provides the timing of the evolution, and where along the phylogeny the morphogenetic genes were co-opted into patterning the cochlear innervation, and the full coiling of the cochlea in modern therians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhe-Xi Luo
- Section of Vertebrate Paleontology, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
LADEVÈZE SANDRINE, DE MUIZON CHRISTIAN. Evidence of early evolution of Australidelphia (Metatheria, Mammalia) in South America: phylogenetic relationships of the metatherians from the Late Palaeocene of Itaboraí (Brazil) based on teeth and petrosal bones. Zool J Linn Soc 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00577.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
12
|
Forasiepi AM, Rougier GW. Additional data on early Paleocene metatherians (Mammalia) from Punta Peligro (Salamanca Formation, Argentina): comments based on petrosal morphology. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2008.00519.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
|
13
|
Voss RS, Jansa SA. Phylogenetic Relationships and Classification of Didelphid Marsupials, an Extant Radiation of New World Metatherian Mammals. BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 2009. [DOI: 10.1206/322.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
14
|
Ruf I, Luo ZX, Wible JR, Martin T. Petrosal anatomy and inner ear structures of the Late Jurassic Henkelotherium (Mammalia, Cladotheria, Dryolestoidea): insight into the early evolution of the ear region in cladotherian mammals. J Anat 2009; 214:679-93. [PMID: 19438763 PMCID: PMC2707092 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01059.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/09/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The petrosal anatomy and inner ear structure of Jurassic cladotherian mammals represent the ancestral morphological conditions (groundplan) from which modern therian mammals (marsupials and placentals) have evolved. We present the reconstruction of the petrosal and inner ear features of the Late Jurassic dryolestoid mammal Henkelotherium guimarotae from high-resolution computed tomography and three-dimensional imaging analysis. This study of Henkelotherium revealed a combination of derived and primitive features, including: cladotherian apomorphies, such as the promontorial sulcus for the internal carotid artery and reduced lateral trough; trechnotherian characters, such as an enclosed cochlear canaliculus for the perilymphatic duct, post-promontorial tympanic sinus and caudal tympanic process; in addition to plesiomorphic mammalian features, such as the cavum supracochleare and prootic canal. The inner ear of Henkelotherium shows a division between the utricle and saccule, a cochlear canal coiled through at least 270 degrees, a distinctive primary bony lamina for the basilar membrane, and a secondary bony lamina. The development of the primary and secondary bony laminae in the cochlear canal is suggested here to be correlated with the concurrent coiling of the bony canal and membranous duct of the inner ear cochlea, apomorphies of the more inclusive cladotherian clade that also represent the ancestral morphotype of modern therian mammals. Because these features are crucial for high-frequency hearing in extant therian mammals, their early appearance in Late Jurassic cladotherians suggests a more ancient origination for high-frequency hearing in mammalian history than previously thought.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irina Ruf
- Steinmann-Institut für Geologie, Mineralogie und Paläontologie, Bereich Paläontologie, Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ladevèze S, Asher RJ, Sánchez-Villagra MR. Petrosal anatomy in the fossil mammal Necrolestes: evidence for metatherian affinities and comparisons with the extant marsupial mole. J Anat 2009; 213:686-97. [PMID: 19094184 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2008.00985.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We present reconstructions of petrosal anatomy based on high-resolution X-ray computed tomography scans for the fossil mammal Necrolestes and for the marsupial mole Notoryctes sp. Compared with other mammals, Necrolestes exhibits a mosaic of plesiomorphic and derived characters, but most of the evidence supports its metatherian status. We revised previous descriptions and report on features of phylogenetic or functional significance. Necrolestes exhibits features that support metatherian affinities, such as the presence of a short and lateral prootic canal, and the loss of the stapedial artery in adults. A deep groove at the anterior pole of the promontorium is present in front of the cochlear housing, a variant on the extrabullar pathway of the internal carotid artery. The promontorium is laterally bordered by a large bony projection resembling the eutherian tegmen tympani [De Beer GR (1937) The Development of the Vertebrate Skull, Oxford, Clarendon Press, p. 391]. Posteromedial to the secondary facial foramen and anterolateral to the fenestra vestibuli is a pronounced fossa for the tensor tympani muscle. On the medial part of the pars canalicularis there is a great inflation of the medial side of the caudal tympanic process, a structure of unknown function. The internal acoustic meatus exhibits a broad transverse septum and is bordered laterally by a broad prefacial commissure. The cochleae of Necrolestes and of Notoryctes have fewer spiral turns (1.1 and 1.6, respectively) than most marsupials. The lateral semicircular canal is more expanded than the posterior semicircular canal in Necrolestes but not in Notoryctes. Both Necrolestes and Notoryctes have a second crus commune, i.e. the lateral semicircular canal opens into the ampulla of the posterior semicircular canal. A stylomastoid foramen enclosed anterodorsally by both the pars cochlearis and pars canalicularis is present in Dasyuridae, Dromiciops gliroides and Notoryctes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine Ladevèze
- Palaeontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
GOIN FRANCISCOJ, CANDELA ADRIANAM, ABELLO MALEJANDRA, OLIVEIRA EDISONV. Earliest South American paucituberculatans and their significance in the understanding of ‘pseudodiprotodont’ marsupial radiations. Zool J Linn Soc 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00471.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
17
|
Beck RMD, Godthelp H, Weisbecker V, Archer M, Hand SJ. Australia's oldest marsupial fossils and their biogeographical implications. PLoS One 2008; 3:e1858. [PMID: 18365013 PMCID: PMC2267999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2007] [Accepted: 02/13/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We describe new cranial and post-cranial marsupial fossils from the early Eocene Tingamarra Local Fauna in Australia and refer them to Djarthia murgonensis, which was previously known only from fragmentary dental remains. Methodology/Principal Findings The new material indicates that Djarthia is a member of Australidelphia, a pan-Gondwanan clade comprising all extant Australian marsupials together with the South American microbiotheres. Djarthia is therefore the oldest known crown-group marsupial anywhere in the world that is represented by dental, cranial and post-cranial remains, and the oldest known Australian marsupial by 30 million years. It is also the most plesiomorphic known australidelphian, and phylogenetic analyses place it outside all other Australian marsupials. Conclusions/Significance As the most plesiomorphic and oldest unequivocal australidelphian, Djarthia may approximate the ancestral morphotype of the Australian marsupial radiation and suggests that the South American microbiotheres may be the result of back-dispersal from eastern Gondwana, which is the reverse of prevailing hypotheses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robin M D Beck
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|