Bibliography Record

 
D
 Benoit, Julien; Crumpton, Nick; Mérigeaud, Samuel; Tabuce, Rodolphe (detail)
   
2013
A memory already like an elephant's? The advanced brain morphology of the last common ancestor of Afrotheria (Mammalia).
Brain Behav. Evol. 16 pp. 3 tabs. 5 figs. DOI: 10.1159/000348481 Publ. online March 21, 2013.
–ABSTRACT: Virtually reconstructed and natural endocranial casts are used in the study of brain evolution through geological time. We here present work investigating the paleoneurological evolution of afrotherian mammals. Using microCT-generated endocasts we show that, with the exception of the subfamilies Macroscelidinae and Tenrecoidea, most Afroinsectiphilia display a more or less gyrencephalic and ventrally expanded neopallium, two derived features that are unexpected for these insectivore-grade afrotherians. This implies that the endocranial cast morphology at the root of the afrotherian clade may have been more advanced than previously thought. The reconstructed endocranial morphology of the Afrotheria's last common ancestor reaches the level of complexity of some early Cenozoic archaic ungulates. Our result gives support to the hypothesis of an ungulate-like ancestral body plan for Afrotheria. It also implies that the a priori 'primitive' suite of traits evident in the brain of Afroinsectivora, especially in the tenrecs, may have been secondarily acquired. Implications on the overestimation of the divergence age of Afrotheria are discussed.
  Provides a CT reconstruction of the endocranial cast of Prorastomus sirenoides, and a cladogram based on endocranial morphology including 8 fossil and Recent sir. taxa. Also comments briefly on Desmostylus.

Related Index Records (11)

Brain and Nervous System
(SEE ALSO: Sense Organs)
  * 2013 Benoit et al. (evolution of brain morphology)
Desmostylus Marsh, 1888
  2013 Benoit et al. (brain morphology; m3.)
Dugong dugon (Müller, 1776) Palmer, 1895
  2013 Benoit et al. (endocranial morphology)
Eosiren libyca Andrews, 1902
  2013 Benoit et al. (endocranial morphology)
Hydrodamalis gigas (Zimmermann, 1780) Palmer, 1895
  2013 Benoit et al. (endocranial morphology)
Metaxytherium de Christol, 1840
  2013 Benoit et al. (endocranial morphology)
Phylogeny and Affinities of the Sirenia and/or Desmostylia
(SEE ALSO under species)
  * 2013 Benoit et al. (cladogram of 8 fossil & Recent sir. taxa, based on endocranial morphology.)
Prorastomus sirenoides Owen, 1855
  * 2013 Benoit et al. (evolution of brain morphology; CT reconstruction of endocranial cast.)
Protosiren fraasi Abel, 1907
  2013 Benoit et al. (endocranial morphology)
Trichechus inunguis (Natterer in von Pelzeln, 1883) Thomas and Lydekker, 1897
  2013 Benoit et al. (endocranial morphology)
Trichechus manatus Linnaeus, 1758
  2013 Benoit et al. (endocranial morphology)

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