Neuroanatomy of <i>Gryposuchus neogaeus</i> (Crocodylia, Gavialoidea): a first integral description of the braincase and endocranial morphological variation in extinct and extant gavialoids

Morphological studies of the braincase and cranial endocast of fossil crocodylians, especially gavialids, are scarce. Here, we present a detailed description of the neuroanatomy of <i>Gryposuchus neogaeus</i> from the Miocene of Argentina, based on CT scans. The cranial endocast is sub-h...

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Autores principales: Bona, Paula, Carabajal, Ariana Paulina, Brandoni de Gasparini, Zulma Nélida
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/87618
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id I19-R120-10915-87618
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Naturales
cranial endocast
crocodylians
inner ear
Miocene
palaeobiology
palaeoneurology
pneumaticity
South America
spellingShingle Ciencias Naturales
cranial endocast
crocodylians
inner ear
Miocene
palaeobiology
palaeoneurology
pneumaticity
South America
Bona, Paula
Carabajal, Ariana Paulina
Brandoni de Gasparini, Zulma Nélida
Neuroanatomy of <i>Gryposuchus neogaeus</i> (Crocodylia, Gavialoidea): a first integral description of the braincase and endocranial morphological variation in extinct and extant gavialoids
topic_facet Ciencias Naturales
cranial endocast
crocodylians
inner ear
Miocene
palaeobiology
palaeoneurology
pneumaticity
South America
description Morphological studies of the braincase and cranial endocast of fossil crocodylians, especially gavialids, are scarce. Here, we present a detailed description of the neuroanatomy of <i>Gryposuchus neogaeus</i> from the Miocene of Argentina, based on CT scans. The cranial endocast is sub-horizontal and the angle formed between the mid-brain and the hind-brain is poorly marked. When compared with <i>Gavialis gangeticus</i>, the mid-brain of <i>G. neogaeus</i> is relatively shorter, although the distribution of cranial nerves is similar. In the floor of the endocranial cavity, posterior to the dorsum sellae, there is a median foramen that leads into a canal that runs anteroventrally through the basisphenoid to penetrate the posterior wall of the pituitary fossa (open foramen for the basilar artery?). The same structure is present in <i>G. gangeticus</i>, but is absent in other living crocodylians, suggesting a potential synapomorphy of Gavialoidea. The pneumaticity of the skull roof and the lateral branches of the pharyngotympanic system in <i>G. neogaeus</i> are markedly reduced when compared with the extant species. Comparisons with the living <i>Gavialis</i> indicate that the pattern of braincase morphology of Gavialidae was present in the Miocene; however, the internal morphology, including brain shape, pneumaticity of the skull roof and basicranium, is different in the two species. This work is the first step to understand the variation of the neuroanatomy in this group of archosaurs and its palaeobiological implication.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Bona, Paula
Carabajal, Ariana Paulina
Brandoni de Gasparini, Zulma Nélida
author_facet Bona, Paula
Carabajal, Ariana Paulina
Brandoni de Gasparini, Zulma Nélida
author_sort Bona, Paula
title Neuroanatomy of <i>Gryposuchus neogaeus</i> (Crocodylia, Gavialoidea): a first integral description of the braincase and endocranial morphological variation in extinct and extant gavialoids
title_short Neuroanatomy of <i>Gryposuchus neogaeus</i> (Crocodylia, Gavialoidea): a first integral description of the braincase and endocranial morphological variation in extinct and extant gavialoids
title_full Neuroanatomy of <i>Gryposuchus neogaeus</i> (Crocodylia, Gavialoidea): a first integral description of the braincase and endocranial morphological variation in extinct and extant gavialoids
title_fullStr Neuroanatomy of <i>Gryposuchus neogaeus</i> (Crocodylia, Gavialoidea): a first integral description of the braincase and endocranial morphological variation in extinct and extant gavialoids
title_full_unstemmed Neuroanatomy of <i>Gryposuchus neogaeus</i> (Crocodylia, Gavialoidea): a first integral description of the braincase and endocranial morphological variation in extinct and extant gavialoids
title_sort neuroanatomy of <i>gryposuchus neogaeus</i> (crocodylia, gavialoidea): a first integral description of the braincase and endocranial morphological variation in extinct and extant gavialoids
publishDate 2017
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/87618
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