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Development of the Cetacean Nasal Skull /

Morphogeny of the nasal skull was investigated in 92 embryos of 13 species of Cetacea. Compared to the original nasal capsule of land mammals, the nasal structures of Cetacea show many weighty transformations. As a result, the nostrils are translocated from the tip of the snout to the vertex of the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Klima, M.
Corporate Author: SpringerLink (Online service)
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 1999.
Series:Advances in anatomy, embryology, and cell biology ; 149.
Subjects:
Life sciences.
Zoology.
Cetacea > embryology.
Nose > embryology.
Electronic books.
Online Access:Connect to the full text of this electronic book
Description
Summary:Morphogeny of the nasal skull was investigated in 92 embryos of 13 species of Cetacea. Compared to the original nasal capsule of land mammals, the nasal structures of Cetacea show many weighty transformations. As a result, the nostrils are translocated from the tip of the snout to the vertex of the head. Several structures of the embryonic nasal skull remain preserved even in adult cetaceans. The translocation of the nostrils to the highest point of the surfacing body is among the most perfect adaptations of cetaceans to the aquatic life habits. The morphogeny of the nasal skull suggests that all cetaceans are of common origin and form a single monophyletic order. The hitherto usual division of this order into two suborders, Mysticeti and Odontoceti, appears to be unsubstantiated. Rather, at least three closely related superfamilies should be distinguished within the order Cetacea, viz., Balaenopteroidea, Physeteroidea, and Delphinoidea. The results are in a conspicuous accordance with the most recent molecular biological investigations on this topic.
Item Description:Electronic resource.
Physical Description:1 online resource (viii, 143 pages 68 illustrations)
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references (pages 133-143).
ISBN:9783642586125 (electronic bk.)
3642586120 (electronic bk.)
ISSN:0301-5556 ;