The ear region in Xenarthrans ( = Edentata: Mammalia) Fieldiana, Geology, new series, no. 24

Book cover
This paper is the second in a series of two works detailing the descriptive and comparative anatomy of the xenarthran ear region (basicranium and its immediate surrounds, including the middle but not the inner ear). The study was begun by Patterson and Segall in 1945 and continued until Patterson's departure from the Field Museum in 1955, but was never completed. Part I (Patterson et al., 1989) covers the anatomy of the auditory region in cingulates, i.e., armadillos, pampatheres, and glyptodonts. This paper examines the auditory anatomy of the Pilosa, i.e., sloths and anteaters, and the Palaeanodonta. Descriptions are provided for 20 extinct and extant sloth genera, four living and extinct genera of anteaters, and three genera of the extinct suborder Palaeanodonta. In addition, a section detailing the morphology of the auditory ossicles of all groups of living and extinct xenarthrans, both cingulates and pilosans, is included. The comparative anatomy of this region of the xenarthran skull provides new evidence in support of a monophyletic grouping of palaeanodonts and xenarthrans exclusive of pangolins, and a diphyletic origin of the living tree sloths, with Choloepus being linked to the extinct family Megalonychidae and Bradypus to the extinct family Megatheriidae. The suggestion is also put forward (although somewhat weakly supported) that the Megatheriidae and Megalonychidae form a monophyletic clade, with the family Mylodontidae as the sister group to this clade Includes bibliographical references (p. 75-78) This paper is the second in a series of two works detailing the descriptive and comparative anatomy of the xenarthran ear region (basicranium and its immediate surrounds, including the middle but not the inner ear). The study was begun by Patterson and Segall in 1945 and continued until Patterson's departure from the Field Museum in 1955, but was never completed. Part I (Patterson et al., 1989) covers the anatomy of the auditory region in cingulates, i.e., armadillos, pampatheres, and glyptodonts. This paper examines the auditory anatomy of the Pilosa, i.e., sloths and anteaters, and the Palaeanodonta. Descriptions are provided for 20 extinct and extant sloth genera, four living and extinct genera of anteaters, and three genera of the extinct suborder Palaeanodonta. In addition, a section detailing the morphology of the auditory ossicles of all groups of living and extinct xenarthrans, both cingulates and pilosans, is included. The comparative anatomy of this region of the xenarthran skull provides new evidence in support of a monophyletic grouping of palaeanodonts and xenarthrans exclusive of pangolins, and a diphyletic origin of the living tree sloths, with Choloepus being linked to the extinct family Megalonychidae and Bradypus to the extinct family Megatheriidae. The suggestion is also put forward (although somewhat weakly supported) that the Megatheriidae and Megalonychidae form a monophyletic clade, with the family Mylodontidae as the sister group to this clade Fieldiana series has been published as Geological Series by Field Columbian Museum (1895-1909) and Field Museum of Natural History (1909-1943), and as Fieldiana: Geology by Chicago Natural History Museum (1945-1966) and Field Museum of Natural History (1966-1978). Fieldiana Geology New Series No. 1 began June 29, 1979
add to favoritesadd

Users who have this book

Users who want this book

What readers are saying

What do you think? Write your own comment on this book!

write a comment

What do you think? Write your own comment on this book

Info about the book

Series:

Unknown

ISBN:

0226094782

Rating:

4.5/5 (5)

Your rating:

0/5

Languge:

English

Do you want to read a book that interests you? It’s EASY!

Create an account and send a request for reading to other users on the Webpage of the book!