Neuroanatomy and inner ear labyrinths of the narwhal, Monodon monoceros, and beluga, Delphinapterus leucas (Cetacea: Monodontidae)
- PMID: 30033539
- PMCID: PMC6131972
- DOI: 10.1111/joa.12862
Neuroanatomy and inner ear labyrinths of the narwhal, Monodon monoceros, and beluga, Delphinapterus leucas (Cetacea: Monodontidae)
- PMID: 30033539
- PMCID: PMC6131972
- DOI: 10.1111/joa.12862
Abstract
Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) and belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) are the only extant members of the Monodontidae, and are charismatic Arctic-endemic cetaceans that are at risk from global change. Investigating the anatomy and sensory apparatuses of these animals is essential to understanding their ecology and evolution, and informs efforts for their conservation. Here, we use X-ray CT scans to compare aspects of the endocranial and inner ear labyrinth anatomy of extant monodontids and use the overall morphology to draw larger inferences about the relationship between morphology and ecology. We show that differences in the shape of the brain, vasculature, and neural canals of both species may relate to differences in diving and other behaviors. The cochleae are similar in morphology in the two species, signifying similar hearing ranges and a close evolutionary relationship. Lastly, we compare two different methods for calculating 90var - a calculation independent of body size that is increasingly being used as a proxy for habitat preference. We show that a 'direct' angular measurement method shows significant differences between Arctic and other habitat preferences, but angle measurements based on planes through the semicircular canals do not, emphasizing the need for more detailed study and standardization of this measurement. This work represents the first comparative internal anatomical study of the endocranium and inner ear labyrinths of this small clade of toothed whales.
Keywords: X-ray CT; brain; cochlea; microCT; petrosal; sensory system; skull; vestibule.
© 2018 Anatomical Society.
Figures
Figure 1
Phylogenetic relationships of the Monodontidae,…
Figure 1
Phylogenetic relationships of the Monodontidae, modified from McGowen et al. (2009).
Figure 2
Isosurface renderings from
Figure 2
Isosurface renderings from
Figure 3
Labeled anterolateral views of the…
Figure 3
Labeled anterolateral views of the digital cranial endocasts of Monodon monoceros (
Figure 4
Labeled anterior (A,B) and ventral…
Figure 4
Labeled anterior (A,B) and ventral (C,D) views of digital cranial endocasts of Monodon…
Figure 5
Posterior (A,B), dorsal (C,D), right…
Figure 5
Posterior (A,B), dorsal (C,D), right lateral (E,F), and left lateral (G,H) views of…
Figure 6
Labeled digital endocast in anterior…
Figure 6
Labeled digital endocast in anterior (top) and dorsal (bottom) views of the inner…
Figure 7
Digital endocasts of inner ear…
Figure 7
Digital endocasts of inner ear labyrinths of Delphinapterus leucas specimens from the right…
Figure 8
Digital endocasts of the inner…
Figure 8
Digital endocasts of the inner ear labyrinths of Delphinapterus leucas and Monodon monoceros …
Figure 9
Digital endocasts of the inner…
Figure 9
Digital endocasts of the inner ear labyrinths of Monodon monoceros specimens from the…
Figure 10
Principle components analysis (
Figure 10
Principle components analysis (
Figure 11
Distributions of 90var measurements taken…
Figure 11
Distributions of 90var measurements taken two different ways – the ‘direct’ method (of…
References
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