Pour la Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: n° 567(1), P. 92 - 94
Published: Dec. 20, 2024
Journal of Morphology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 285(6)
Published: May 17, 2024
Abstract Lithornithidae, an assemblage of volant Palaeogene fossil birds, provide our clearest insights into the early evolutionary history Palaeognathae, clade that today includes flightless ratites and tinamous. The neotype specimen Lithornis vulturinus , from Eocene (approximately 53 million years ago) Europe, a partial neurocranium has never been thoroughly investigated. Here, we describe these cranial remains including nearly complete digital endocasts brain bony labyrinth. telencephalon is expanded its optic lobes are ventrally shifted, as typical for crown birds. foramen magnum positioned caudally, rather than flexed in some with lobes, cerebellum, shifted further ventrally. overall shape similar to tinamous, only extant flying palaeognaths, suggesting several aspects tinamou neuroanatomy may have evolutionarily conserved since at least Cenozoic. estimated ratio lobe's surface area relative total suggests diurnal ecology. date ancestral bird, combining ancestrally unflexed caudally oriented connection spinal cord, moderately enlarged telencephalon, lobes.
Language: Английский
Citations
3
Journal of Anatomy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 245(5), P. 751 - 774
Published: Aug. 9, 2024
Abstract Frogs have a highly conserved body plan, yet they employ diverse array of locomotor modes, making them ideal organisms for investigating the relationships between morphology and function, in particular whether anatomical complexity is prerequisite functional complexity. We use diffusible iodine contrast‐enhanced microCT (diceCT) imaging to digitally dissect gross muscle anatomy pelvis hindlimbs 30 species frogs representing five primary including first known detailed dissection some world's smallest frogs, forming largest digital comparative analysis musculoskeletal structure any vertebrate clade date. By linking dissections phylogenetic methods, we then quantify compare function across over 160 million years anuran evolution. In summary, found that bone lengths pelvic crest sizes are generally not reliable predictors sizes, which highlights important implications future palaeontological studies. Our investigation also presents previously unreported differences specialising different several frog hindlimb muscles, extremely difficult extract measure using traditional approaches. Furthermore, find evidence many‐to‐one one‐to‐many mapping form phylogeny. Additionally, perform quantitative how degree separation can differ frogs. history key contributing factor thigh, while shank muscles influenced more strongly by mode. Finally, our 3D reconstructions published alongside this manuscript contribute towards research serve as educational materials.
Language: Английский
Citations
2
Journal of Anatomy, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 243(5), P. 729 - 757
Published: June 26, 2023
Palaeognathae, the extant avian clade comprising flightless ratites and flight-capable tinamous (Tinamidae), is sister group to all other living birds, recent phylogenetic studies illustrate that are phylogenetically nested within a paraphyletic assemblage of ratites. As only palaeognaths have retained ability fly, may provide key information on nature flight apparatus ancestral crown palaeognaths-and, in turn, birds-as well as insight into convergent modifications wing among ratite lineages. To reveal new about musculoskeletal anatomy facilitate development computational biomechanical models tinamou function, we generated three-dimensional model Andean (Nothoprocta pentlandii) using diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT). Origins insertions pectoral musculature N. pentlandii generally consistent with those volant birds specialized for burst flight, entire suite presumed neornithine muscles present exception biceps slip. The pectoralis supracoracoideus robust, similar condition burst-flying such many Galliformes. Contrary most Neognathae (the Palaeognathae), insertion pronator superficialis has greater distal extent than profundus, although anatomical observations broadly conditions observed neognaths. This work will help form basis future comparative system, implications reconstructing clarifying underlying origins flightlessness.
Language: Английский
Citations
6
Developmental Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 517, P. 203 - 216
Published: Sept. 24, 2024
Language: Английский
Citations
1
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 202(3)
Published: Nov. 1, 2024
Abstract Fish skulls are often highly kinetic, with multiple linkage and lever systems powered by a diverse suite of muscles. Comparative analysis the evolution soft-tissue structures in fish skull is limited under traditional approaches, while new imaging techniques like diceCT (diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography) allow for high-resolution muscles situ. Darters (Percidae: Etheostomatinae) diminutive species-rich clade lotic freshwater fishes, which show head shapes believed to be associated different foraging strategies. We used sample all major cranial adductors abductors responsible movement jaw, hyoid, operculum, suspensorium from 29 species. applied comparative phylogenetic approaches analyse evolutionary trends muscle size across clade. found two patterns: (i) darter fundamental trade-offs relating investment musculature, as well buccal expansion vs. biting attributes; early divergence appears shifts habitat use foraging; (ii) adductor mandibulae high variation architecture (fibre orientation, divisions). This study highlights how can provide novel insights into anatomy even well-sampled/represented clades.
Language: Английский
Citations
0
Pour la Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: n° 567(1), P. 92 - 94
Published: Dec. 20, 2024
Citations
0