Mammal Terminology Flashcards
Accessory cusp
small cusp usually situated peripheral to main biting or crushing surface of tooth
aerial
pertaining to flying
alveolus
socket in jawbone that receives root(s) of tooth or contains base of evergrowing tooth
Alisphenoid canal
passageway in the base of alisphenoid bone through which a blood vessel passes
- anterior and posterior openings of the canal are the third and fourth foramina at the posterior base of the orbit
Ambulatory
pertaining to a walking habit as in bears and raccoons
Analogous
of similar function or appearance
Angular process
posteroventral bony projection of dentary ventral to condyloid (articular) process
antler
branched (usually), boney head ornament of frontal bone found in cervids, often only in males, covered with skin (velvet) during growth, shed annually
aquatic
lives predominantly in water
arboreal
lives predominately in trees ex. primates, squirrels, sloths
articular proccess (pr condyloid process)
posterior boney projection of dentary that supports the articular condyle (point of articulation between lower jaw and cranium)
articulate
to join or connect two adjacent bones
auditory bulla
bony capsule enclosing middle ear; when formed by tympanic bulla
Auditory Canal
bony tubular passage between tympanic membrane and external auditory meatus
Baculum
sesamoid bone (penis bone) in the penis of males of certain mammalian groups
basioccipital
unpaired bone at base of occipital complex
bipedal
walking on 2 feet
bone
hard, supportive structure consisting of cells distributed in a matrix of fibrous protein (collagen) and salt (chiefly calcium and phosphate)
Brachyodont
pertaining to a low-crowned tooth; such teeth are rooted. used to chew less abrasive foods such as fruit and meat
braducardia
refers to ability of some organisms to slow their heart rate
braincase
posterior portion of cranium, part that encloses and protects the brain
browsers
species which feed primarily on stems, twigs, buds and leaves
browtine
fist tine above base on an antler
bulla
a large blister or vesicle; bulb like
bunodont
low crowned, rectangular, grinding tooth, typical of omnivores
caecum
blind sac branching from the junction of the small and large intestines or from the large intestine and colon
calcar
a cartilaginous rod that projects from the ankle in many and serves to support the tail membrane. a similar structure protrudes laterally from the wrist or elbow of some rodents and supports the gliding membrane
canal
perforation or foramen, that tends to be elongated into a tube
canine
one of 4 basic kinds of mammalian teeth; anterior-most in maxilla; frequently elongate, uncuspid and single rooted; never more than one per quadrant
caniform
having the general shape of a canine
carnassial pair
pair of large bladelike teeth (last upper premolar and first lower molar) that occlude with scissor like (shearing) action, possessed by most modern carnivores
carnivore
meat eating
cartilage
relatively soft supporting tissue consisting of rounded cells in a matrix of polysaccahrides and fibrous protein (collagen)
cementum
hard substance, also bonelike (though softer than dentine), which covers the root of the tooth
cheekteeth
collectively postcanine teeth: premolars and molars
cingulum
enamel shelf bordering margin(s) of a tooth (cingulid used shelf of lower teeth)
classification
placement of groups in taxa
claw
keratinized projection at the tips of the digits; long, curve and sharply pointed
cloaca
“dumping ground” or chamber into which the reproductive, urinary and digestive products enter just before leaving the body
Condyloid process
posterior bony projection of dentary that supports the articular condyle (point of articulation between lower jaw and carnium)
coronoid process
posterior bony projection of dentary anterodorsal to articular process
coprophagous
refers to the consumption of fecal matter, in order to better digest fermented plant materials
convergent evolution
refers to the occurrence of similar characteristics evolved separately in unrelated groups
“conveyor belt” tooth replacement
condition in which cheek teeth are replaced from behind
cranium
collectively, bones that form upper part of skull (contains upper teeth and braincase); lower part of skull is the mandible
crepuscular
most active at dusk and dawn;twilight
crown
portion pf the tooth above the gum line
cursorial
mode of locomotion; adapted for running
cusp
point, projection or bump on crown (occlusal surface or chewing surface) of a tooth
cuspidate
presence of cusps on a tooth
cusplet (or secondary cusp)
small cusp
deciduous dentition (or milk teeth)
juvenile teeth, those that appear first in lifetime of a mammal, consisting or incisors, canines and premolars; generally replaced by adult (permanent) teeth
decurve
curve downwards
deflected
bent outwards or laterally
dental formula
numerical representation of the kind (incisor, canine, premolar, molar) and number of each kind of tooth on one side of the upper and one side of the lower mammalian jaws
dentary
bone of lower jaw, forming half of mandible
dentine
calcareous material. harder than bone but softer than enamel, which makes up much or most of a tooth
dewclaws (or dewhoofs)
clawed hoofed remnants of side toes in carnivores and artiodactyls, located just above the main functional digits
diastema
a gap or space between teeth. used most often to denote gap between incisors and cheekteeth in lagomorphs and rodents
digastric muscle
the primary muscle functioning to open the jaws
- originates on the mastoid and paroccipital process and inserts on the lower border of the mandible
- prominent in many herbivores
digits
toes
digitigrade
walking of tips of carpals/tarsals, metacarpals/metatarsals and phalanges
diphyodont
having two sets of teeth, the condition of most mammals
diurnal
most active during day
ectothermic
using environmental heat sources to thermoregulate
enamel
layer of material (usually outermost layer) covering a tooth; hardest substance in the body
enamel plate
a segment or portion of a tooth that is heavily invested with enamel
endothermic
producing thermoregulatory heat internally
external auditory meatus
round boney oriface or opening that is covered by eardrum
fenestration
opening; in current work applied to specialized openings in the crania pr lagomorphs and cervids; having a network of irregular perforations or holes
flange
a laterally compressed or flattened protion of bone that increase the surface area
foramen
opening in bone which passes nerves, blood vessels, or muscules
foramen magnum
large opening on posterior of a cranium through which passes the spinal cord
foregut fermenters
fermentation of cellulose occurs (before absorption of carbohydrates and proteins) in compartment development from the esophagus
fossa
a shallow depression on surface of bone. usually forming a site of muscular attachment or bone articulation
fossorial
lives predominantly underground
frontal
paired bone of cranium, near orbit, situated posterior to nasal and anterior to parietal
frontal appendages
bone growth (horn or antlers) arising from frontal bones
frugivores
generally, species who consume the reproductive part of plants, in particular fleshy fruits. May or may not consume seeds
globular
globe like, spherical
granivores
species which feed on fruits but particularly on seeds or nuts. fleshy part of fruits may or may not be consumed
grazers
species which feed mainly on grasses
guard hairs
the prominent, coarse hair in the pelage of mammals. Examples:spines, bristles and mane hairs
Gumivores
species whose main food source comes from the exudates of trees- sap, resins, or gums
herbivore
plant eating
heterodont
dentition in which there are teeth of different forms
heterothermic
having a variable body temperature
handgun fermenter
“Caecalids”, fermentation occurs in caecum, therefore digestion and absorption of protein and soluble carbohydrates occur before microbial breakdown of cellulose
holarctic region
zoogeographic region which collectively comprises the Palearctic and Narcotic regions
homothermic
having constant internal temperature
homodont
dentition in which the teeth closely resemble one another
homologous
resulting from common ancestor, or of the same origin
hood (hoofs or hooves)
keratinized projection at the tips of digits that completely encase the tip of the phalanx
horn
frontal appendage with a permanent bony core covered with comprised hair like material (keratin); the covering is not shed in bovids but is shed annually in antilocaprids
Hypsodont
pertaining to a high-crowned tooth; such teeth have shallow roots.
- adapted to withstand wear of abrasive substances contained in vegetation such as silica in grass
incisiform
having general form of an incisor
incisive foramen
anterior palatine foramen or palatine slit
incisor
one of 4 basic kinds of mammalian teeth that, when present, originate in pre maxilla of cranium; anteriormost teeth (those in front of canines) in lower jaw
inflated
enlarged or expanded, not flattened or compressed
inflected
bent inward or medially
infraorbital canal
canal through zygomatic process of maxilla from wall of orbit to side of rostrum, where it passes through infraorbital foramen
infraorbital foramen
opening in maxilla from orbit onto the face (rostrum or cranium)
insectivore
insect eating
Insertion
the site of attachment of muscle (usually on a bone) on the more movable of the two elements, or bones, that are joined by the muscles
inter femoral membrane
membrane between tail and hindlimb in bats
interorbital breadth
interorbital constriction
interparietal
unpaired bone of cranium at juncture of paired parietals with supra occipital
ischial callosities
a pair of naked, thickly keratinized skin patches on the rump of certain primates
jugal (or Malar)
mid bone in zygomatic arch
Hugo-Maxillary structure
juncture between juggle and maxillary bones at anterior margin of zygomatic arch
labial
pertaining to lip; for example labial side of tooth is that side nearer lips rather than tongue; lateral surface of a tooth. on the cheek side of the tooth
Lacrimal
paired bone of cranium situated in anterior position of orbit, between juggle and frontal bones; has small openings for tear (lacrimal duct)
lacrimal pit
pit or opening in lacrimal bone containing tear duct
lambdoidal ridge (or lambdoidal crest)
bony ridge at juncture of occiput and parietal bones
lingual
pertaining to tongue; example: lingual side of tooth’s nearer longer rather than lips
lophodont
type of molar, having a complex, folded cusp pattern providing grinding surface area for herbivory
Lyre-shaped
shaped as the lyre
mandible
lower jaw, formed by paired dentary bones
Mandibular fossa (or glenoid fossa)
concavity on ventral surface of zygomatic arm of squamosal with which the denture articulates
manus
hand milk dentition: first set of deciduous teeth in immature mammals
Masseter Muscle
a muscle often consisting of several bands that originates on and adjacent to the zygomatic arch and insert mostly in the masseteric fossa of the lower jaw
Mastoid
paired bone of skull, bordered by squamosal, exoccipital and tympanic
Mastoid Bulla
that part of bulgar region covered by mastoid (mastoid) bone
Maxilla (or maxillary)
Paired bone of skull situated behind pre maxilla and anterior to palatine; this bone bears all upper teeth except incisors
Maxillary tooth row
length of upper row of teeth, in maxillary bone (thus always excluding incisors); measurement usually taken at alveoli
mesopterygoid fossa
shallow area posterior to internal nares and between pterygoid bones
molar
one of 4 basic kinds of mammalian teeth located posterior to premolars; molars have no deciduous precursors
molariform
having the general form of a molar; most often used to describe molar like premolars
Myrmecophagous
ant eating
monocular
two eyes, sometimes facing in different directions, seeing separate of somewhat separate images
monophyodont
having only one set of teeth
nail
keratinized projection at the tips of digits, usually short, flat and blunt
nares
openings, external and internal, of the nasal passage
nasal
paired bone of cranium situated on anterodorsal surface of skull
nearctic region
zoogeographic region containing temperate and arctic regions of the new world (north american and south to centra mexico)
nectarivores
species whose principal dietary component much of the year consists of pollen or nectar
Neotropic region
zoogeographic region containing tropics of the new world (central mexico and South America and West Indies)
neonate
term used refer to newborn metatherians
neopallium
refers to the non-olfactory portion of cerebral cortex
neoteny
refers to the situation where an animal retains throughout its life features which, in its ancestors would be considered typical of an immature state in life cycle
nocturnal
most active at night
occipital condyle
surface of articulation between cranium and first cervical vertebra; two such condyles in mammals, on either side of foramen magnum
Occlusal surface
the part of the tooth which contacts another tooth (in opposing jaw) in an animals bite, important in understanding how an animal chews
orbit
space (socket for the eye)
origin
site of attachment of muscles (usually on a bone) of the less movable of the two elements, or bones, that are joined by the muscle
Palatal bridge
bony tooth-bearing plate behind diastema; especially well developed in lagomorphs and rodentia
Palatal emargination
indentation at anterior margin of rostrum (in pre maxillae), particularly in bats
palate
bony plate in rood of mouth formed by fusion of pre maxillae, maxillae and palatines
Palearctic region
zoogeographic region containing temperate and arctic regions of old world
Palmated
form like the palm of a hand; term applied to antlers in which at least some spaces between tines are filled with bony growth
parietal
paired bone of skull that is situated posterior to frontal and dorsal to squamosal
par occipital process
bony projection extending ventrally from or located ventrally on, par occipital bone
pelage
hair, fur
pentadatyl
5 toed
perforate
pierced by an opening
Pes
foot
Pinna (pl. pinnae)
fleshy skin flap that surrounds the external ear opening
piscivore
fish eating
placenta analogue
the placental(s) which fills the same ecological niche as a given marsupial
plantigrade
walking on carpals/tarsals, metacarpals/metatarsals and phlanges
Poikilothermic
having a varied internal temperature
Post canine teeth
collectively, teeth behind canines
Posterior lacerate foramen (or jugular foramen)
opening in basicranual region between tympanic bulla and basiooccipital
posterior palatine foramen
small opening in hard palate near juncture of maxillae and palatines
postorbital bar
complete dorsoventral connection (bar) of the bone posterior to orbit; results from fusion of postorbital process of frontal and postorbital process of jugal
Postorbital process on frontal
bony projection of frontal bone posterior to orbit
posterorbital process of jugal
bony projection of judal bone posterior to orbit
Preglenoid crest
bony ridge or shelf on anterior part of gelnoid (mandibular) fossa, especially well developed in carnivores
Premaxilla
paired bone in anterior or cranium; point of origin of upper incisors
premolar
1 of 4 basic kinds of mammalian teeth, situated between canines and molars
Prismatic
cheek teeth (especially of rodents) with well developed triangles (or prisms) of enabled surrounding basins of dentine
process
small boney projection
Procumbent
protruding or projecting forward, such as procumbent incisors
Pterygoid
paired bone on ventral surface of cranium, posterior to palatine and anterior to alisphenoids forms border of internal nares
pulp
central, living portion of a tooth, supplied with blood vessels and nerves
Quadrant
one-fourth of the total complement of teeth; one side of upper or one side of lower jaw
Quadruped
walking on four limbs
Re-entrant angle
unfolds of enamel on the side, from or posterior part of a tooth
Rhinarium
naked nose pad
Ricochetal
adapted to bipedal jumping
root
portion of the tooth below the gum line, fitting into the alveolus or jaw socket, teeth have between one and 3 roots depending on type
rooted teeth
teeth, which stop growing at certain size
rootless teeth
teeth,which grow throughout the life of the animal
rostrum
portion of cranium anterior to orbit. nose.
Ruminant
ungulate with specialized 4 chambered digestive system; ud-chewing mammals
sagital crest
raised bony ridge on mid dorsal aspect of cranium; well developed in carnivores
saltatorial
adapted for quadrupedal jumping
sanguivore
blood eating
Scansorial
climbing by use of claws. lives predominately in trees and on ground
scutes
flat bony plates of dermal tissue covered by epidermis forming the outer shell of armadillos
secodont
tooth that is compressed to increase shearing action; well developed in carnassial of some carnivores
secondary cusp
cusplet
selenodont
cusp pattern of molars in which individual cusps are crescent shaped; highly developed in ungulates
semiprismatic
cheek teeth (especially of rodents) with partially closed (slight re-entrant angles) triangles (or prisms) or enamel surrounding dentine
Sesamoid
bone formed in a tendon
Skull
cranium plus mandible
Squamosal
paired bone of cranium of posterolateral surface of skull
Stereoscopic vision
2 forward-facing eyes seeing one combined image, allowing for increased depth perception
supraorbital process
bony projection above orbit on frontal bone;especially well developed in lagomorphs
supraorbital shelf
small bony ridge on dorsal margin of orbit on frontal and parietal bones
Suture
point of contact (or juncture) and fusion between adjacent bones
Syndactyle
having digits, which as fused together
talon(id)
a posterior “tail” or expansion on an upper (lower)cheek tooth with produces a square outline to the tooth and expands the crushing surface
taxonomy
discipline of classifying organisms
temporal muscle
the muscle that originates on the posterodorsal and lateral portions of the braincase and insert chiefly on the coronoid process of the lower jaw
temporal ridge
bony ridge on frontal and parietal bones
terrestrial
lives mainly on ground
tragus
a projection of skin that arises at the anteroventral margin of the pinna. found in most bats and springhares
truncated
abruptly or sharply marked, having a square of broad end; sometimes appearing as cut off
Tuberculo-sectorial
a tritubercular tooth with sharp cutting edges (cusps)
tympanum
of, or pertaining to, bony ring, as in serum that des not form a complete bulla
underfur
soft, often woolly insulate hairs in the pelage of mammals. provides the bulk of the hair covering in most species
ungulates
hooded animals
Unguligrade
walking on tip(s) of phalanges
unicuspid
with single, well developed cusp
uropatagium
portion of flight membrane of bates situated between legs; encloses tail or part of tail
Vibrissae
ling whiskers specialized as tactile receptors, commonly located in facial region
vomer
unpaired bone of cranium that may form septum in nasal passage
Zygomatic arch (or Zygoma)
arch of bone protecting orbit; formed by juggle and compliments of maxillary and squamosal bones
Zygomatic breadth
measurement between the outer most points of arches
zygomatic plate
plate like extension of maxilla in anterior part of zygoma
