Boyer diss 2009 1046..

matrices based on the results of the optimization described above. I also changed codings
for Paromomyidae and Carpolestidae where I disagreed with those of the Bloch and
Silcox (2006) and Bloch et al. (2007) based on a re-assessment of the fossil evidence.
In the matrix of Bloch and Silcox (2006), 10 character codings were changed,
representing changes in nine characters for two taxa (Tables 5.3, 5.4A, 5.5). One
character coding was additionally changed in Carpolestes simpsoni based on discussions
with J. Bloch that lead me to believe the change represents the morphology more
accurately.
In the matrix of Bloch et al. (2007), 17 character codings were changed,
representing 16 characters and two taxa (Tables 5.3, 5.4A-C, 5.5). Seven of these
characters encode postcranial morphology. The remaining nine characters encode cranial
morphology. These nine characters are the same as those changed in the Bloch and
Silcox (2006) matrix (Table 5.3).
Reconstruction of internal carotid artery functionality and skull length
Whether the internal carotid plexus canal held a functional internal carotid artery
that was responsible for bringing a critical amount of blood to the forebrain has been
addressed by measuring the diameter of the posterior carotid foramen (Kay et al., 1992),
the internal carotid plexus canal, or groove for the internal carotid plexus on the
promontorium (Bloch and Silcox, 2006). Kay et al. (1992) revealed that extant primates
without a functional artery have a proportionally and, in most cases, absolutely smaller
posterior carotid foramen than those with a functional one. This analysis was designed
by Kay et al. (1992) to estimate functionality of the internal carotid artery in the
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