Digital reconstruction of the inner ear of Leptictidium auderiense (Leptictida, Mammalia) and North American leptictids reveals new insight into leptictidan locomotor agility

Ruf, Irina; Volpato, Virginie; Rose, Kenneth D.; Billet, Guillaume; Muizon, Christian de; Lehmann, Thomas

doi:10.1007/s12542-015-0276-2

Cited by 16 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…In an attempt to explain the peculiar morphology of the bony labyrinth in G. robustum that emerged from the morphometric geometric analyses (see BResults^), we tried to replicate studies that have been proposed in recent years, relating the shape of labyrinthine features to functional aspects (e.g., Spoor et al 2007;Manoussaki et al 2008;Silcox et al 2009;Malinzak et al 2012;Berlin et al 2013). However, in doing so, we took into account the criticisms that other authors have offered on the accuracy and reliability of these methods (e.g., David et al 2010David et al , 2016Malinzak et al 2012;Billet et al 2013;Danilo et al 2015;Orliac and O'Leary 2016;Perier et al 2016;Ruf et al 2016). For example, the a priori agility categories established by Spoor et al (2007) correspond to subjective impressions according to Malinzak et al (2012), whereas Billet et al (2013) and Ruf et al (2016) demonstrated the difficulty of using the equations of Silcox et al (2009) for extremely large and small-sized taxa.…”

Section: Functional Aspects/attributes Of the Bony Labyrinthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, in doing so, we took into account the criticisms that other authors have offered on the accuracy and reliability of these methods (e.g., David et al 2010David et al , 2016Malinzak et al 2012;Billet et al 2013;Danilo et al 2015;Orliac and O'Leary 2016;Perier et al 2016;Ruf et al 2016). For example, the a priori agility categories established by Spoor et al (2007) correspond to subjective impressions according to Malinzak et al (2012), whereas Billet et al (2013) and Ruf et al (2016) demonstrated the difficulty of using the equations of Silcox et al (2009) for extremely large and small-sized taxa. For this reason, we plotted the semicircular canal ratio (SCR) value over the body mass estimation of the G. robustum specimen MACN Pv 13553, in order to visualize it in the mammalian graphs published by Spoor et al (2007: Fig.…”

Section: Functional Aspects/attributes Of the Bony Labyrinthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These analyses have also been tentatively applied to extinct animals, with the aim to infer functional aspects from inner ear morphology (e.g., Orliac et al 2012;Macrini et al 2013;Ekdale and Racicot 2015). However, these methodologies have also been criticized by several authors, who found the proposed methods partly unreliable or difficult to replicate (e.g., David et al 2010David et al , 2016Billet et al 2013;Danilo et al 2015;Orliac and O'Leary 2016;Perier et al 2016;Ruf et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Phylogenetic and functional implications of the ear region anatomy of Glossotherium robustum (Xenarthra, Mylodontidae) from the Late Pleistocene of Argentina

Boscaini¹,

Iurino²,

Billet³

et al. 2018

Sci Nat

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Several detailed studies of the external morphology of the ear region in extinct sloths have been published in the past few decades, and this anatomical region has proved extremely helpful in elucidating the phylogenetic relationships among the members of this mammalian clade. Few studies of the inner ear anatomy in these peculiar animals were conducted historically, but these are increasing in number in recent years, in both the extinct and extant representatives, due to wider access to CT-scanning facilities, which allow non-destructive access to internal morphologies. In the present study, we analyze the extinct ground sloth Glossotherium robustum and provide a description of the external features of the ear region and the endocranial side of the petrosal bone, coupled with the first data on the anatomy of the bony labyrinth. Some features observable in the ear region of G. robustum (e.g., the shape and size of the entotympanic bone and the morphology of the posteromedial surface of the petrosal) are highly variable, both intraspecifically and intraindividually. The form of the bony labyrinth of G. robustum is also described, providing the first data from this anatomical region for the family Mylodontidae. The anatomy of the bony labyrinth of the genus Glossotherium is here compared at the level of the superorder Xenarthra, including all available extant and extinct representatives, using geometric morphometric methods. In light of the new data, we discuss the evolution of inner ear anatomy in the xenarthran clade, and most particularly in sloths, considering the influence of phylogeny, allometry, and physiology on the shape of this highly informative region of the skull. These analyses show that the inner ear of Glossotherium more closely resembles that of the extant anteaters, and to a lesser extent those of the giant ground sloth Megatherium and euphractine armadillos, than those of the extant sloths Bradypus and Choloepus, further demonstrating the striking morphological convergence between the two extant sloth genera.

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Section: Functional Aspects/attributes Of the Bony Labyrinthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Functional Aspects/attributes Of the Bony Labyrinthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Phylogenetic and functional implications of the ear region anatomy of Glossotherium robustum (Xenarthra, Mylodontidae) from the Late Pleistocene of Argentina

Boscaini¹,

Iurino²,

Billet³

et al. 2018

Sci Nat

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“…Other studies have revealed the important palaeobiological insights that can be gleaned from such reconstructions (e.g. Billet et al 2015, Ruf et al 2016, Boscaini et al 2018 -the last study noted important limitations of such inferences as well), but such insights must await future work. In addition, the scans do not resolve all uncertainties concerning the osteology of the ear region in Metacheiromys.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Skeletal Anatomy of the Basicranium and Auditory Region in the Metacheiromyid Palaeanodont Metacheiromys (Mammalia, Pholidotamorpha) Based on High-Resolution CT Scans

et al. 2019

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Abstract Cranial skeletal material of the Eocene palaeanodont Metacheiromys marshi was examined using high-resolution CT scans. The present study represents the first time that CT scans have been conducted on skulls of this extinct fossorial mammal. The bony osteology of the auditory region is described in detail, including the ectotympanic and entotympanic, the petrosal in both tympanic and endocranial views, and the middle ear ossicles. The results of this investigation confirm a number of derived resemblances between palaeanodonts and xenarthrans, including a large entotympanic element in the medial wall of the auditory bulla, the presence of an anteroventral process of the tegmen tympani, and a posttemporal canal. However, the present study also provides novel derived auditory features linking palaeanodonts and pangolins, consistent with current understanding of palaeanodont phylogenetic relationships, including the absence of an ectotympanic styliform process, a posterolaterally oriented aperture to the cochlear fossula, and a convex mallear head / concave incudal head. Several autapomorphic features characterizing the auditory osteology of Metacheiromys are also noted. The presence of a large, spherical mallear head, and of a capacious tympanic cavity extended into sinuses in surrounding bones, likely represent adaptations for fossoriality, consistent with palaeobiological inferences drawn from the postcranial anatomy of Metacheiromys.

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“…In the early 1980s, the investigation of fragile fossil material with destructive methods was increasingly replaced by noninvasive computer tomography scanning (e.g., Conroy & Vannier, 1984;Hoffmann, Schultz, et al, 2014a), which provides a method to virtually reconstruct the internal anatomy of the bony labyrinth. As then, dozens of studies focus on aspects of phylogeny (e.g., Benoit et al, 2015;Lebrun, De León, Tafforeau, & Zollikofer, 2010;Maisey, 2001), physiology (e.g., Armstrong, Bloch, Houde, & Silcox, 2011;Coleman & Colbert, 2007;Kirk & Gosselin-Ildari, 2009;Manoussaki et al, 2008), ontogeny (Billet, de Muizon, et al, 2015;Costeur, Mennecart, Müller, & Schulz, 2017;Ekdale, 2010;Mennecart & Costeur, 2016;Sánchez-Villagra & Schmelzle, 2007), paleobiology (e.g., David et al, 2010;Neenan & Scheyer, 2012;Pfaff Nagel, et al, 2017;Spoor, Bajpai, Hussain, Kumar, & Thewissen, 2002) or functional morphology (e.g, Coutier, Hautier, Cornette, Amson, & Billet, 2017;Grohé, Tseng, Lebrun, Boistel, & Flynn, 2016;Pfaff, Czerny, Nagel, & Kriwet, 2017b;Pfaff, Martin, & Ruf, 2015;Ruf et al, 2016;Schellhorn, 2018a;Schutz, Jamniczky, Hallgrímsson, & Garland, 2014;Spoor et al, 2007) of the labyrinth organ in extant but also extinct taxa. Anatomical correlations between membranous and bony labyrinths seem underrepresented, and precise and detailed descriptions based on histological serial and thin sections are valuable (e.g., Maier, 2013;Maier & van den Heever, 2002;Schultz, Zeller, & Luo, 2017;Starck, 1995;Wever, 1978…”

Section: Inner Earmentioning

confidence: 99%

The vertebrate middle and inner ear: A short overview

Pfaff

Schultz

Schellhorn

2018

Journal of Morphology

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The evolution of the various hearing adaptations is connected to major structural changes in nearly all groups of vertebrates. Besides hearing, the detection of acceleration and orientation in space are key functions of this mechanosensory system. The symposium "show me your ear - the inner and middle ear in vertebrates" held at the 11th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology (ICVM) 2016 in Washington, DC (USA) intended to present current research addressing adaptation and evolution of the vertebrate otic region, auditory ossicles, vestibular system, and hearing physiology. The symposium aimed at an audience with interest in hearing research focusing on morphological, functional, and comparative studies. The presented talks and posters lead to the contributions of this virtual issue highlighting recent advances in the vertebrate balance and hearing system. This article serves as an introduction to the virtual issue contributions and intends to give a short overview of research papers focusing on vertebrate labyrinth and middle ear related structures in past and recent years.

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Digital reconstruction of the inner ear of Leptictidium auderiense (Leptictida, Mammalia) and North American leptictids reveals new insight into leptictidan locomotor agility

Cited by 16 publications

References 51 publications

Phylogenetic and functional implications of the ear region anatomy of Glossotherium robustum (Xenarthra, Mylodontidae) from the Late Pleistocene of Argentina

Phylogenetic and functional implications of the ear region anatomy of Glossotherium robustum (Xenarthra, Mylodontidae) from the Late Pleistocene of Argentina

Skeletal Anatomy of the Basicranium and Auditory Region in the Metacheiromyid Palaeanodont Metacheiromys (Mammalia, Pholidotamorpha) Based on High-Resolution CT Scans

The vertebrate middle and inner ear: A short overview

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