Cranial and endocranial comparative anatomy of the Pleistocene glyptodonts from the Santiago Roth Collection
Abstract With their odd cranial features, glyptodonts, closely related to extant armadillos, are a highly diverse group of the South American megafauna. Doedicurus, Glyptodon, Panochthus, and Neosclerocalyptus were present in the “Pampean Formation” during the Pleistocene, and they are all exception...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Swiss Journal of Palaeontology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-023-00280-8 |
| _version_ | 1797451624418902016 |
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| author | Zoe M. Christen Marcelo R. Sánchez-Villagra Kévin Le Verger |
| author_facet | Zoe M. Christen Marcelo R. Sánchez-Villagra Kévin Le Verger |
| author_sort | Zoe M. Christen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract With their odd cranial features, glyptodonts, closely related to extant armadillos, are a highly diverse group of the South American megafauna. Doedicurus, Glyptodon, Panochthus, and Neosclerocalyptus were present in the “Pampean Formation” during the Pleistocene, and they are all exceptionally preserved in the Santiago Roth Collection, thus offering the possibility of investigating these four well-diversified genera. A total of 13 specimens (seven species) were analysed and compared in a qualitative/quantitative study of external cranial remains and endocranial reconstructions (i.e., braincase and associated cranial canals, and inner ears). We report on anatomical features that contribute to existing phylogenetic matrices; many of them are new potential synapomorphies supporting the current hypotheses regarding the evolutionary history of the Pleistocene glyptodonts. These include the anterior cranial shape, the position of the basicranium in respect to the whole cranium, the shape of the cranial roof, the position of the largest semicircular canal, and the inclination of the cerebrum. They may represent new shared-derived features among Glyptodon, Doedicurus, Neosclerocalyptus, and Panochthus. We also provide detailed comparative descriptions highlighting new potential convergences in respect to current phylogenies, concerning, for instance, the shape of the foramen magnum, the global shape of the cranium, orbital shape, cochlear position, and a strong protrusion of the zygomatic process of the squamosal. In light of these results, we discuss morphological transformations across phylogeny. The endocranial comparison brought insights on the phylogenetic patterns of cranial canal evolution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:57:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9def99b2a8e44b8fba7c4d49a38c3662 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-2376 1664-2384 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:57:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Swiss Journal of Palaeontology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9def99b2a8e44b8fba7c4d49a38c36622023-11-26T14:07:28ZengSpringerOpenSwiss Journal of Palaeontology1664-23761664-23842023-08-01142113210.1186/s13358-023-00280-8Cranial and endocranial comparative anatomy of the Pleistocene glyptodonts from the Santiago Roth CollectionZoe M. Christen0Marcelo R. Sánchez-Villagra1Kévin Le Verger2Department of Paleontology, University of ZurichDepartment of Paleontology, University of ZurichDepartment of Paleontology, University of ZurichAbstract With their odd cranial features, glyptodonts, closely related to extant armadillos, are a highly diverse group of the South American megafauna. Doedicurus, Glyptodon, Panochthus, and Neosclerocalyptus were present in the “Pampean Formation” during the Pleistocene, and they are all exceptionally preserved in the Santiago Roth Collection, thus offering the possibility of investigating these four well-diversified genera. A total of 13 specimens (seven species) were analysed and compared in a qualitative/quantitative study of external cranial remains and endocranial reconstructions (i.e., braincase and associated cranial canals, and inner ears). We report on anatomical features that contribute to existing phylogenetic matrices; many of them are new potential synapomorphies supporting the current hypotheses regarding the evolutionary history of the Pleistocene glyptodonts. These include the anterior cranial shape, the position of the basicranium in respect to the whole cranium, the shape of the cranial roof, the position of the largest semicircular canal, and the inclination of the cerebrum. They may represent new shared-derived features among Glyptodon, Doedicurus, Neosclerocalyptus, and Panochthus. We also provide detailed comparative descriptions highlighting new potential convergences in respect to current phylogenies, concerning, for instance, the shape of the foramen magnum, the global shape of the cranium, orbital shape, cochlear position, and a strong protrusion of the zygomatic process of the squamosal. In light of these results, we discuss morphological transformations across phylogeny. The endocranial comparison brought insights on the phylogenetic patterns of cranial canal evolution.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-023-00280-8Pampean RegionPhylogenyConvergenceEndocastInner earMorphometrics |
| spellingShingle | Zoe M. Christen Marcelo R. Sánchez-Villagra Kévin Le Verger Cranial and endocranial comparative anatomy of the Pleistocene glyptodonts from the Santiago Roth Collection Swiss Journal of Palaeontology Pampean Region Phylogeny Convergence Endocast Inner ear Morphometrics |
| title | Cranial and endocranial comparative anatomy of the Pleistocene glyptodonts from the Santiago Roth Collection |
| title_full | Cranial and endocranial comparative anatomy of the Pleistocene glyptodonts from the Santiago Roth Collection |
| title_fullStr | Cranial and endocranial comparative anatomy of the Pleistocene glyptodonts from the Santiago Roth Collection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cranial and endocranial comparative anatomy of the Pleistocene glyptodonts from the Santiago Roth Collection |
| title_short | Cranial and endocranial comparative anatomy of the Pleistocene glyptodonts from the Santiago Roth Collection |
| title_sort | cranial and endocranial comparative anatomy of the pleistocene glyptodonts from the santiago roth collection |
| topic | Pampean Region Phylogeny Convergence Endocast Inner ear Morphometrics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-023-00280-8 |
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