Variations in the middle ear of the Mammalia |
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Authors: | Ronald Hinchcliffe and Ada Pye |
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Institution: | Institute of Laryngology and Otology, University of London |
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Abstract: | The comparative morphology of mammalian middle ear structures has been studied by examining the histological sections of the ears of 144 specimens of mammals which had been collected, with a few exceptions, in two expeditions to the Caribbean area. Fifty-four species of six orders of mammals were represented. Sixteen structural features or relationships were specifically studied and the bearing of taxonomic groupings on the variability was analysed. A taxonometric analysis using these middle ear features indicated that Microdipodops may lie nearer to Dipodomys than to Perognathus. A table presenting the detailed results has been deposited with the British Museum (Natural History). |
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