Endocranial morphology of the extinct Antillean shrew Nesophontes (Lipotyphla: Nesophontidae) from natural and digital endocasts of Cuban taxa

Abstract

This paper describes the endocranial morphology of the extinct genus of Antillean shrews Nesophontes, based on natural and digital endocranial casts extracted from Cuban species. The endocranial casts show developed olfactory lobes without accessory bulbs, an exposed tectum with visible superior colliculi, a large cerebellum and vermis, and a smooth neocortex. Body mass was estimated from skull size to be between 97 and 114 g, yielding encephalization quotients between 0.33 and 0.57. Endocranial casts of Nesophontes are morphologically similar to those of Solenodon more so than to other lipotyphlans such as Sorex, Blarina, Erinaceus, or the afroinsectivoran Tenrec. The morphological similarity to Solenodon, not only in endocranial structures but also in the rest of the skeleton suggests a behavioral analogy between the two genera. The marked superior colliculi, prominent olfactory lobes, and facial musculoskeletal anatomy suggest that Nesophontes was most likely nocturnal and fossorial, relying on hearing, smell, and tactility to forage. Future analysis of the appendicular skeleton can help determine if this genus was solely terrestrial or if it also exploited arboreal habitats. All these morphologies can help elucidate Nesophontes's behavior, ecology, and the osteological variation that is observed in the genus.

Exceptional Skull of Huayqueriana (Mammalia, Litopterna, Macraucheniidae) From the Late Miocene of Argentina: Anatomy, Systematics, and Paleobiological Implications

“…This places the vessel against the dorsal half of the piriform lobe (Orliac et al, 2012) or actually on the rhinal fissure (= lateral cerebral venous sinus of Simpson, 1933), for which it is sometimes considered a probable marker (e.g., Rowe, 1996;Silcox et al, 2011;Orihuela, 2014).…”

Social organization in Eulipotyphla: evidence for a social shrew

“…The new order Eulipotyphla contains five families: Erinaceidae (hedgehogs and moonrats), Talpidae (moles), Solenodontidae (solenodons), Soricidae (shrews) [18] and the extinct family Nesophontidae [19]. The Erinaceidae have only 24 species.…”

Mitogenomic sequences support a north–south subspecies subdivision within Solenodon paradoxus

“…Nesophontes appears to have more regularly dispersed across islands, as species were present in Puerto Rico and the Cayman Islands for which dispersal is the only plausible explanation(Whidden and Asher 2001). Recently, an analysis of endocranial morphology has suggested similarities between Solenodon and Nesophontes(Orihuela 2014). If a sister relationship is upheld between Solenodon and Nesophontes, one can hypothesize that the ancestral form was more likely to resemble Nesophontes, for which there is strong evidence for dispersal, and that the morphology of non-dispersing Solenodon may be derived subsequent to arrival.Based on an examination of 65 southern and 128 northern specimens of S. paradoxus, Ottenwalder has proposed placing populations in the Peninsula de Barahona and Sierra de Bahoruco of the southwest Dominican Republic in a distinct subspecies S. p. woodi, characterized by its small body size, and into which he also placed the solenodons from Massif de la Hotte in Haiti(Ottenwalder 2001).…”