Lec 13 Flashcards

1
Q

Ungulata/Euungulata

A

unguis = distal most phalanx; covered with keratin sheath

Mammals with hooves

Reduced number of toes

Lengthened foot - Calcaneum doesn’t articulate with the fibula
-Calcaneum is point of attachment for achille’s tendon

Deep groove in astragalus

In both perissodactyla (odd-toed) and artiodactyla (even-toed) astragalus contacts fibula, NOT calcaneum

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2
Q

Differently shaped astragalus

A

Perissodactyla: Bottom surface flat; single pulley

Artiodactyla: Bottom surface pulley-shaped; double pulley; proximal and distal “saddle”

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3
Q

Order Perissodactyla

A

Sister to artiodactyla

The “odd-toed ungulates)

Monophyletic group

Mesaxonic condition: Weight of foot just on third digit
-Axis of symmetry of foot: 3rd, or middle, digit

Elongate rostrum with molariform teeth (essentially homodont teeth)

Simple stomach, but large caecum
-Caecum is first part of large intestine that forms line sac; caecum modified fermentation chamber

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4
Q

Perissodactyl Evolution

A

Arose in late paleocene in Asia (60-56Mya)
-Fossil first found in this time frame

Diversified and spread to Europe and North America by early Eocene

The dominant browsers of the Eocene

Began to decline in Miocene (23-5Mya)

  • Climatic changes (dry to ice sheets rising)
  • Possibly due to competition from artiodactyls
  • Domination of artiodactyls

Family level evoltuion

  • Tapiridae evolved in North America in Eocene
  • Rhinocerotidae evolved in Eurasia and North America in early Eocene
  • -Paraceratherium: largest known land mammal (5m tall; 11,000kg)
  • –Historically largest land mammal
  • Equidae evolved in North America in early Eocene
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5
Q

Cursorial Specialization

A

Expanding grasslands favored running adpatations (cursorial = adapted for running)

  • Escape predators
  • Long migrations to new food sources

Integrated locomotor and respiratory functions
-Synchronize breathing with stride cycles

Slim elongate legs

Running spped determined by:

  • Stride length
  • Stride rate
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6
Q

Cursorial Specialization: Increase Stride LENGTH

A

Ways to increase SPEED

Absence of clavicle = scapula free-floating

Shows sternum articulating with humerus

Forelimb moves freely far anterior

1) increase length of limbs
- Metacarpals/metatarsals
- Digits elongate

2) Loss or reduction of clavicle
- Clavicle bridge-like support; prevents from moving forelimb too far in any direction

3) Flexion and extension of spinal column
- Adds 10km/hr to speed of cheetah

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7
Q

Cursorial Specialization: Increase Stride RATE

A

1) Increase the number of moveable joints
- More joints moving in the same direction = more vectors = faster speed
- 4 joints due to digitigrade/unguligrade posture
- Produces longer leg without increasing limb mass and adds joint that participates in limb swing

2) Only distal-most digits contact the ground
3) Muscles positioned close to body
4) Tendons positioned distally

Ankle joint

  • Astragulus rests on distal tarsal bones
  • Tarsals modified by loss or fusion of elements
  • Weight transferred to central digits
  • -Mesaxonis = weight on 3rd digit
  • -Paraxonic - weight on 3rd and 4th digits (3 and 4 fused)

Nuchal ligament supports weight of head

Springing ligament in feet

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8
Q

Perissodactyla have ___________ foot symmetry

A

Mesaxonic

Axis of symmetry is trhough 3rd/middle digit

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9
Q

Artiodactyla have ___________ foot symmetry

A

Paraxonic

Axis of symmetry is between 3rd and 4th digits

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10
Q

Cannon bone and Springing ligament

A

Springing ligament: Connects anterior part of hoof with midline of metatarsal

When foot comes up off ground, it’s like releasing band and energy is released

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11
Q

Tendon

A

Muscle to bone

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12
Q

Ligament

A

Bone to bone

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13
Q

Feeding Specialization

A

herbivorous diet

Molariform cheek teeth with large complex occlusal surfaces for efficient grinding

Plant material difficult to digest

  • Plants have defensive secondary compounds
  • Cellulose in plant cell walls (mammals can’t digest)

Necessary to digest cellulose by means other than enzymatic action
-Co-opted microbes in order to process cellulose; need cellulase to digest cellulose, animals don’t produce this but microbes do

Microbial fermentation necessary

  • Slow process
  • Requires a fermentation chamber
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14
Q

Perissodactyla use ___________ fermentation

A

HINDGUT FERMENTATION

-Caecum = expanded colon

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15
Q

Foregut Fermentation

A

Found in Artiodacyls

Rumination: Complex multichambered stomach

Cellulose digesting microorganisms

1st chamber = rumen-fermentation

2nd chamber = reticulum - forms softened cud

Absoprtion of nutrients in rumen and reticulum

Regurgitation = further breakdown by saliva

Moves through last 2 chambers then intestines

Slow - process less food in a long amount of time

Gain nutrients from digested microorganisms

thorough breakdown

Requires less food

Optimal when there is limited high quality forage

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16
Q

Hindgut Fermentation

A

Most non-artiodactyl mammals

Less efficient but occurs more rapidly; good when high abundance of low-quality food is available

Non-ruminants

Masticate food as they eat

Enzymatic digestion in mouth and simple stomach

Nutrient absorption in small intestine

Cellulose digested in cecum by microorganisms

LESS efficient

MORE rapid (30-45h)

Good when food is less digestible in high volumes

Fast - process a lot of food quickly

Don’t gain nutrients form microorganism digestion; toxins process in liver; needs lots of food

Optimal when there is abundant low quality forage

17
Q

Living Perissodactyla

A

Dentition and cranial morphology developed in response to herbivorous feeding habits

  • Elongate skulls to accommodate battery of teeth
  • Teeth usually LOPHODONT
  • -Hypsodont in grazing types (high-crowned, eating more rough diets)
  • -Brachydont in browsers 9low crowned; softer diet)
18
Q

Family Equidae

A

Highly cursorial

Rostrum long and deep

Cheek teeth hypsodont

Only third digit is functional

Most species are highly social

Herds and/or clans

Polygynous mating system

Social hierarchy
-Led by dominant stallion

Fission-fusion social system common
-Come and go between herds

Equus evolved in N America and reintroduced to N America

Crossed into Asia in Late Pliocene

Horse domestication may date as far back as 4500 years ago in central Asia

Integral part of human culture

  • Provide transportation
  • Draft animals and mounts for military conquest
  • Companions
19
Q

Family Tapiridae

A

1 genus with 4 species

DISJUNCT distribution
-New World tropics and Malayan Peninsula

Stocky build (weigh up to 320kg)

Short, flexible proboscis

Limbs short and stout

Brachydont cheek teeth
-Low crowned = soft diet

Origin in N America; during Eocene, Bering land bridge was present, tapirs able to migrate to Malaysia

in myocene, Panama land bridge allowed tapirs to migrate to S America

Nasal bones of skull retracted above orbits
-High nasal bones situated above orbits allow for flexible proboscis

20
Q

Family Rhinocerotidae

A

Distribution: Parts of Africa and SE Asia

Large heavy-bodied, short-legged

  • Graviportal limbs
  • -Thick, column-like limbs to support heavy body
  • Weigh up to 2800kg

Nasal bones thickened and enlarged

Horn(s) of dermal mass of agglutinated keratinized fibers (fused hairs)
-NOT true horns

Solitary to social

Territorial - use scent marking (dung piles)

Use of horns in traditional medicine

  • All species facing possible extinction
  • Northern white rhino functionally extinct (only 2 females left)