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Boyer diss 2009 1046..

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the midpoint is slightly narrower, roughly 4.4 mm. The posterior width cannot be<br />

measured due to breakage. The bone is marked by a longitudinal ridge along its midline<br />

(Fig. 3.5: 43). The pre-distortion dorsoventral thickness of the bone is difficult to<br />

estimate.<br />

The exoccipitals are quite well preserved, retaining both occipital condyles (Fig.<br />

3.4, 5, 10: 44), the left hypoglossal foramen (Fig. 3.5: 45), the posterior margins of both<br />

posterior lacerate foramina (or jugular foramina) (Fig. 3.5: 46), both jugular processes<br />

(Figs. 3.5, 10: 47), and the majority of their contribution to the posterior surface of the<br />

skull (Fig. 3.10). The suture, or contact, with the basioccipital is completely obscured.<br />

Each condyle is 5.1 mm high and 4.5 mm wide. The hypoglossal foramen is 1.75 mm by<br />

1.60 mm and has two smaller foramina inset within it. The left jugular foramen is<br />

preserved more completely and is 2.9 mm in maximum diameter. The jugular processes<br />

do not project posteriorly beyond the condyles, as they sometimes do in other taxa. The<br />

processes project lateral to the edge of the condyles by 2.4 mm on both sides. The<br />

foramen magnum appears undistorted and is 6.4 mm high and 9.1 mm wide (Fig. 3.10:<br />

48). The dorsal rim of the foramen magnum is comprised mainly of right and left<br />

exoccipitals. The two bones almost meet in the midline and may have actually touched in<br />

the pristine skull (Fig 10: 49). Given that the exoccipitals and supraoccipital appear<br />

generally undistorted overall, the mediolateral diameter of the back of the skull between<br />

posteriormost projections of the exoccipital jugular process can be measured at 21.7 mm.<br />

The supraoccipital is fragmentary (Figs. 3.10, 13) and is preserved on the<br />

posterior sides of the nuchal crests. This bone was thin and overlay the exoccipital (Figs.<br />

3.5, 10, 13: 50). The region of contact between the missing pieces of supraoccipital can<br />

198

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