Endocranial morphology of the extinct Antillean shrew Nesophontes (Lipotyphla: Nesophontidae) from natural and digital endocasts of Cuban taxa
Endocranial morphology of the extinct Antillean shrew Nesophontes (Lipotyphla: Nesophontidae) from natural and digital endocasts of Cuban taxa
复制标题
古巴类群自然和数字内模中已灭绝的安的列斯鼩鼱 Nesophontes（Lipotyphla：Nesophontidae）的颅内形态
DOI：
10.26879/369
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发表时间：
2014
影响因子：
2
通讯作者：
Johanset Orihuela
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Johanset Orihuela
本文描述了已灭绝的安的列斯群岛的鼩属Nesophontes的颅内形态，基于自然和数字颅内铸件提取的古巴物种。颅内铸型显示嗅叶发达，无副嗅球，顶盖暴露，上级丘可见，小脑和蚓部较大，新皮质光滑。根据颅骨大小估计体重在97至114 g之间，产生的脑化系数在0.33至0.57之间。Nesophontes的颅内管型在形态上与Solenodon的管型相似，而不是其他liptyphlans，如Sorex，Blarina，Erinaceus或afroinsectivoran Tenrec。它们在形态上与索齿龙相似，不仅在颅内结构上，而且在骨骼的其他部分也相似，这表明这两个属之间存在行为上的相似性。明显的上级丘、突出的嗅叶和面部肌肉骨骼解剖结构表明，Nesophontes很可能是夜间活动和洞穴活动，依靠听觉、嗅觉和生殖力觅食。未来对无骨骨骼的分析可以帮助确定该属是否仅在陆地上生存，或者是否也利用了树栖栖息地。所有这些形态学可以帮助阐明Nesophontes的行为，生态学，以及在该属中观察到的骨骼学变化。约翰塞特·奥里韦拉美国佛罗里达迈阿密佛罗里达国际大学地球与环境系（地球科学），Paleonycteris@gmail.com
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. Johanset Orihuela. Department of Earth and Environment (Geosciences), Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA, Paleonycteris@gmail.com