THE SKULL OF MORGANUCODON
THE SKULL OF MORGANUCODON
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1096-3642.1981.tb01127.x
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发表时间：
1981-01-01
影响因子：
2.8
通讯作者：
RIGNEY, HW
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
KERMACK, KA;MUSSETT, F;RIGNEY, HW
Morganucodon is a triconodont (atherian) mammal from the Lower Jurassic. M. oehleri from China and M. watsoni from Wales [UK] are described. The skull in M. watsoni is 26 mm long; M. oehleri is slightly larger. The dentition is differentiated functionally into mcisors, canines, premolars and molars. The pineal foramen is closed. The prefrontals, postfrontals and postorbitals are lost. Septomaxilla, quadratojugal, tabular and pterygoid flanges are retained and the bony external nares are unpaired. The nasal cavity had the mammalian complement of turbinals. The posterior palate has ridges and troughs similar to those in tritylodonts, triconodonts and multituberculates. The alisphenoid ascending process is narrow and is not in contact with the anterior lamina of the petrosal, lying lateral to it. There is a cavum epiptericum, as in late therapsids. The anterior lamina forms the lateral braincase wall, perforated by the foramina pseudovale and pseudorotundum. There is a squamosal-dentary articulation; the reptilian jaw joint is retained. The ear resembles that in later therapsids, with the tympanum in the lower jaw. The small quadrate was moveable, buttressed medially by a large stapes. Sound conduction from the tympanum was via articular, quadrate and stapes. The systematic position of Morganucodon is discussed.
