Week 7 Flashcards
!Distribution of Eraneomorpha (hedgehogs & moonrats)
Africa, Europe, and Asia
!Erinaceomorpha, hedgehogs Vs moonrats coats
Hedgehogs have sharp spines.
Moonrats have fur
!Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and moonrats) skull morphology
- complete zygomatic arch
* Upper molars appear bunodont
!Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and moonrats) diet
*feed on invertebrates
!Erinaceomorpha (hedgehogs and moonrats) hedgehogs spines
Spines are soft when born and harden with age by enlargement of panniculus carnosus muscle which erects the spines
!Sub-family Hylomyinae
Moonrats
!Moonrats (Sub-family Hylomyinae) characteristics
Hair instead of spines
Long nearly hairless tail
Nocturnal and solitary
!Afrosoricida (tenrics and golden moles) distribution
Africa
Afrosoricida (tenrics and golden moles) tenric in convergent evolution with??
Hedgehogs due to there spines!
!Afrosoricida (tenrics and golden moles) skull morphology
- lack jugals
* Incomplete zygomatic arch
!Afrosoricida (tenrics and golden moles) dentition
Upper molars are zalambdodont
!Afrosoricida (tenrics and golden moles) diet
Typically opportunistic invertebrate feeders
!Afrosoricida (tenrics and golden moles) unique breeding?
They have a cloaca!
!Afrosoricida (tenrics and golden moles) golden mole lifestyle
Fossorial
Afrosoricida (tenrics and golden moles) golden mole unique physiology
*Due to dry climate
Low BMR.
They live in dry habitats and so have developed efficient renal function.
!Afrosoricida (tenrics and golden moles) golden moles skull morphology and dentition
Conical
Unique tabular bones in occipital area of skull.
Zygomatic arch formed by elongation of maxillae.
!Afrosoricida (tenrics and golden moles) golden mole dentition
Lateral Incisors and 1st pre-molars canine-like
Molars are zalambdodont
(Soricomorpha) shrews and selenodont unique characteristics??
Venomous saliva!
!Soricidae, shrews (from order soricomorpha) distribution
Wide spread
!Soricidae, shrews (from order soricomorpha) skull morphology
- narrow and elongated
- No zygomatic arch
- No tympanic bulla
- Distinctive double condyle processes, forming a double articulation on mandible
- No post-orbital processe
!Soricidae, shrews (from order soricomorpha) dentition
6 unicuspid teeth in anterior upper dentition.
Pigmented teeth
1st incisor is large with elongated main cusp and smaller posterior secondary cusp.
Upper molars are dilambdodont
Talpidae, moles (from order soricomorpha) distribution
Europe, Asia, and north America
Talpidae (from order soricomorpha) coats
- Moles - short and unidirectional for tunneling
- Desmans - double layered waterproof stiff hairs.
- Shrew moles - guard hairs and underfur
Talpidae (from order soricomorpha) skull morphology
Complete zygomatic arch
Talpidae (from order soricomorpha) dentition
Dilambdodont molars
Talpidae (from order soricomorpha) characteristics
Fossorial
Burrow systems
Eimors organ on snout which is a touch receptor for finding food in tunnels
Star-nosed mole in semi-aquatic
Talpidae (from order soricomorpha) sub-family Desmanidae (desmans) characteristics
Semi-aquatic
Webbed feet
Feed on fresh water invertebrates
Family solenodontidae, selenodons (in order soricomorpha) distribution
Cuba
Family solenodontidae, selenodons (in order soricomorpha) characteristics
Long fur
Venomous saliva
Omnivorous (mostly invertebrates)
Family solenodontidae, selenodons (in order soricomorpha) skull morphology
Incomplete zygomatic arch
No auditory bullae
Extra bone that supports the tip of rostrum
Family solenodontidae, selenodons (in order soricomorpha) dentition
Anterior upper incisors are large
Second lower incisor has deep groove to carry venom
Molars are V-shaped
Sengis/elephant shrews (Order macroscelidae) distribution
Africa
Sengis/elephant shrews (Order macroscelidae) lifestyle adaptations
Diurnal
Insectivorous
Hind limbs are longer than for limbs and so are adapted for leaping
Large eyes
Sengis/elephant shrews (Order macroscelidae) skull morphology
Complete and quite large auditory bullae
Large jugals
Compete zygomatic arch
Palate has large fenestra and so can be confused my marsupials.
To tell the difference you can see that the angle of reflection of the mandible is not rounded like marsupials.
Sengis/elephant shrews (Order macroscelidae) anti-predator behaviour
Maintain long runways clear of obstacles in order to run for safety at high speeds and refuge in burrows.
Aardvark (Order Tubulidentata, family Orycteropodidae) distribution
Africa
Aardvark (Order Tubulidentata, family Orycteropodidae) characteristics
Elongated rostrum for termite and ant eating. Houses a long tongue.
Large donkey-like ears
Thick skin
Sparsely haired
Rely heavily on smell and have 9-11 turbinate bones. Nostrils have fleshy tentacles and dense hair which seal the nostrils when digging.
Aardvark (Order Tubulidentata, family Orycteropodidae) skull morphology
Elongated skull
Complete zygomatic arch
Elaborate Turbinal bones
Aardvark (Order Tubulidentata, family Orycteropodidae) dentition
Lack incisors and canines
Diphyodont - milk teeth lost before birth
Unique molars - they lack enamel. Hexagonal dentine which is surrounded by cementum layer. Rootless and continueously growing
