Boyer diss 2009 1046..
Boyer diss 2009 1046.. Boyer diss 2009 1046..
Major objectives The current study provides the first thorough description and comparison of the skull of Plesiadapis cookei (UM 87990). As a result of this descriptive work, I address several persistent questions regarding the morphology of this specimen in greater detail than done in previous work. With regard to the composition of the auditory bulla, I assess whether morphology of the medial tympanic process of the promontorium suggests the presence of a suture. Additionally, I evaluate whether there is evidence for a suture between the lateral aspect of the bulla and the ectotympanic bone. Following basic descriptions, I make focused comparisons of the P. cookei material to a sample of cranial specimens of P. tricuspidens and assess whether specieslevel size and shape differences exist. Using a set of measurements from Chapter 2, I make well-constrained estimates of relative skull sizes in P. cookei and P. tricuspidens, as well as other plesiadapids, to test the hypothesis that P. cookei is larger than P. tricuspidens. Finally, I test the hypothesis that P. cookei has a more specialized folivorous diet than P. tricuspidens through examination of a number of dental features. This analysis has implications for the hypothesis that P. cookei is plausibly reconstructed as a point along a morphocline reflecting a transition from more generalized to more specialized folivorous diets in plesiadapids (Gingerich, 1976). Anatomical terminology See Chapter 2. The same sources are referenced here as in the previous chapter. 180
Institutional abbreviations AMNH, American Museum of Natural History, New York; MNHN, Muséum Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris; SBU – Stony Brook University; UALVP, University of Alberta, Laboratory for Vertebrate Paleontology; UM , University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology, Ann Arbor; USNM, United States National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian, Washington D.C.; YPM-PU, Yale Peabody Museum – Princeton University collection, New Haven. Generic abbreviations I. - Ignacius P. – Plesiadapis Pl. - Platychoerops Pr. – Pronothodectes N. – Nannodectes History of descriptive study of Plesiadapidae Existing studies on crania of Plesiadapidae, including previous mention of the specimen described here, were summarized in Chapter 2. Furthermore, I provided additional descriptions and interpretations of plesiadapid cranial morphology based on new specimens of Pronothodectes gaoi and a re-examination of all existing plesiadapid cranial material. In the current study, I have followed interpretations given in Chapter 2 and refer to them frequently. 181
- Page 157 and 158: Figure 2.13. USNM 309902 Nannodecte
- Page 159 and 160: Figure 2.15. AMNH 17388 Nannodectes
- Page 161 and 162: Figure 2.16. AMNH 17388 Nannodectes
- Page 163 and 164: Figure 2.18. MNHN CR 125 Plesiadapi
- Page 165 and 166: Figure 2.20. MNHN CR 125 Plesiadapi
- Page 167 and 168: Figure 2.22. MNHN CR 965, Plesiadap
- Page 169 and 170: Figure 2.23. MNHN CR 965 Plesiadapi
- Page 171 and 172: Figure 2.24. MNHN CR 965 Plesiadapi
- Page 173 and 174: Figure 2.25. MNHN CR 965, Plesiadap
- Page 175 and 176: Figure 2.26. Pellouin skull Plesiad
- Page 177 and 178: Figure 2.27. Pellouin skull Plesiad
- Page 179 and 180: Figure 2.28. Pellouin skull Plesiad
- Page 181 and 182: Figure 2.29. Pellouin skull Plesiad
- Page 183 and 184: Figure 2.30. MaPhQ 33y Adapis paris
- Page 185 and 186: Figure 2.31. MNHN CR 126, Plesiadap
- Page 187 and 188: Figure 2.32. SBU MRd-12 Sciurus car
- Page 189 and 190: Figure 2.33. UMMZ 58983 Tupaia glis
- Page 191 and 192: Figure 2.34. Boyer coll. Marmota mo
- Page 193 and 194: Figure 2.35. UMMZ TS13 Lagostomus m
- Page 195 and 196: Figure 2.36. AMNH 41527 Lagostomus
- Page 197 and 198: Figure 2.37. AMNH 185638 Indri indr
- Page 199 and 200: Figure 2.38. USNM 482353 Ignacius c
- Page 201 and 202: Figure 2.39. UM 108207 Acidomomys h
- Page 203 and 204: Figure 2.40. Reconstruction of ples
- Page 205 and 206: CHAPTER 3: DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST
- Page 207: these species. Changing ecological
- Page 211 and 212: Methods of examination and document
- Page 213 and 214: SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY Class MAMMA
- Page 215 and 216: Premaxilla and premaxillary dentiti
- Page 217 and 218: nerve and vessels in life (Fig. 3.5
- Page 219 and 220: identifiable. No ethmoid foramina c
- Page 221 and 222: process is quite large, projecting
- Page 223 and 224: vestibuli. This groove’s point of
- Page 225 and 226: 9: 40). The right side reveals an a
- Page 227 and 228: e seen as a wedge-shaped, rugose de
- Page 229 and 230: process appears as solid bone. Admi
- Page 231 and 232: 16) for P. tricuspidens and Rose (1
- Page 233 and 234: DENTAL FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY OF P.
- Page 235 and 236: Lower premolar molarization As indi
- Page 237 and 238: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION The skull of
- Page 239 and 240: REFERENCES Bloch, J.I., Boyer, D.M.
- Page 241 and 242: TABLES Table 3.1. List of anatomica
- Page 243 and 244: Table 3.2. Anatomical abbreviations
- Page 245 and 246: Table 3.3. Size comparison among pl
- Page 247 and 248: Table 3.4 continued. European plesi
- Page 249 and 250: Figure 3.1. Cranium of Plesiadapis
- Page 251 and 252: Figure 3.3. Right maxillary teeth (
- Page 253 and 254: Figure 3.4. Cranium of Plesiadapis
- Page 255 and 256: Figure 3.5. Cranium of Plesiadapis
- Page 257 and 258: Figure 3.6. Cranium of Plesiadapis
Major objectives<br />
The current study provides the first thorough description and comparison of the<br />
skull of Plesiadapis cookei (UM 87990). As a result of this descriptive work, I address<br />
several persistent questions regarding the morphology of this specimen in greater detail<br />
than done in previous work. With regard to the composition of the auditory bulla, I<br />
assess whether morphology of the medial tympanic process of the promontorium<br />
suggests the presence of a suture. Additionally, I evaluate whether there is evidence for a<br />
suture between the lateral aspect of the bulla and the ectotympanic bone.<br />
Following basic descriptions, I make focused comparisons of the P. cookei<br />
material to a sample of cranial specimens of P. tricuspidens and assess whether specieslevel<br />
size and shape differences exist. Using a set of measurements from Chapter 2, I<br />
make well-constrained estimates of relative skull sizes in P. cookei and P. tricuspidens,<br />
as well as other plesiadapids, to test the hypothesis that P. cookei is larger than P.<br />
tricuspidens. Finally, I test the hypothesis that P. cookei has a more specialized<br />
folivorous diet than P. tricuspidens through examination of a number of dental features.<br />
This analysis has implications for the hypothesis that P. cookei is plausibly reconstructed<br />
as a point along a morphocline reflecting a transition from more generalized to more<br />
specialized folivorous diets in plesiadapids (Gingerich, 1976).<br />
Anatomical terminology<br />
See Chapter 2. The same sources are referenced here as in the previous chapter.<br />
180
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