3D computational imaging of the petrosal of a new multituberculate mammal from the Late Cretaceous of China and its paleobiologic inferences |
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Authors: | Sandrine Ladevèze Christian de Muizon Matthew Colbert Thierry Smith |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Paleontology, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, 29, rue Vautier, 1000 Brussels, Belgium;2. USM203-UMR7207 CR2P, département histoire de la Terre, Muséum national d’histoire naturelle de Paris, 8, rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France;3. Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78705, USA |
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Abstract: | The derived middle and inner ears of mammals are the major features distinguishing them from non-mammalian vertebrates. Among them, multituberculate mammals represent an important transitional stage and a groundplan for further therian ear evolution. We present the reconstruction of petrosal features of a new multituberculate from the Late Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia (China) based on high resolution computed tomography and three-dimensional imaging analysis. Besides questioning some aspects of previous interpretations, this study reveals a combination of derived and primitive characters, such as a therian-like vascular and nervous pattern and internal acoustic meatus, and a monotreme-like inner ear, but with a derived semicircular canal planarity. The possible presence of a primary bony lamina for the basilar membrane could demonstrate that the first step in the elaboration of a coiled cochlea was already present in multituberculates. Auditory capabilities can be deduced for this animal, which was certainly terrestrial and possibly fossorial. |
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