Cranial osteology of Picini (Aves: Piciformes: Picidae)

Abstract

Donatelli, R.J. 2014. Cranial Osteology of Picini (Aves: Piciformes: Picidae). -Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 95: 155-165.The Picini is composed of 26 species of woodpeckers from the old world that are grouped into seven genera. Given the absence of detailed studies on the cranial osteology of the Picini, the purpose of this study is to describe the cranial osteology of 14 species of Picini from six genera and to compare these species with each other, with other species of woodpeckers and with other bird groups. The results of the analysis of the bone structures of the skull of the Picini indicate that there are seven outstanding characteristic of bones involved in the functional mechanistics of the jaw apparatus. In the ossa cranii, these include the frontal overhang, the postorbital process, the extension of the parietal versus the frontal region and the temporal fossa. In the ossa faciei, these include the rostral expansion of the pterygoid, the ventral palatine fossa and the orbital process of the quadrate bone. For all of the structures associated with the cranial osteology of the investigated species, there is a clear distinction between the species of the genus Picus and the other species studied. Blythipicus rubiginosus, Chrysocolaptes lucidus, Reinwardtipicus validus, Gecinulus viridis and the species of the genus Dinopium exhibit additional particularities.Reginaldo J. Donatelli,

Multiple origins of secondary temporal fenestrae and orbitozygomatic junctions in birds

“…In Picoides tridactylus (ISEZ A/4296), the PP approaches the primary external part of the PZ. Also in Reinwardtipicus, and Chrysocolaptes, the PZ closely approaches the PP (Donatelli, : figs. 7 and 8).…”

A Natural Stress Deflector on the Head? Mechanical and Functional Evaluation of the Woodpecker Skull Bones

“…The latest comparative analysis of cranial osteology of woodpeckers was performed by Donatelli [24] , where seven distinct features on the skull bone in some woodpeckers (Picus) were identified, including the presence of a frontal overhang, when compared with other woodpeckers in the same family (Pinici). In general, it is considered that morphology and anatomical structures are affected by (or related to) the foraging behavior and the food source.…”

Relationship Between Jaw Apparatus, Feeding Habit, and Food Source in Oriental Woodpeckers

“…In addition to the structural differences in the components of the cranial osteology of Picini woodpeckers (Donatelli, 2012c), there are a number of characteristics noteworthy for their exclusivity, relative development, or other particularity in a species, genus or group of species: 1) the parietal/frontal diameter ratio is typical and relatively large in smaller woodpeckers; 2) the post-orbital process is relatively standard in Picini woodpeckers (1/3-1/5), except for C. lucidus (4/5); 3) the pes pterygoidei is a well-developed structure that stands out in all Picini woodpeckers; 4) the presence of a frontal overhang differs between the genus Picus and other Picini members; 5) the orbital process of the quadrate is relatively larger in B. rubiginosus; 6) the ventral palatine fossa is relatively deep in B. rubiginosus; 7) there is a clear distinction between species of the genus Picus and other Picini species in relation to the general cranial bone structure; 8) B. rubiginosus, C. lucidus, R. validus, G. viridis and the other species of Dinopium have particularities that, based on the current level of understanding, are too complex to identify the relationships between them.…”