Development of the cetacean nasal skull /
Morphogeny of the nasal skull was investigated in 29 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...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Berlin ; New York :
Springer,
c1999
New York ; Berlin : Springer-Verlag, 1999 New York ; Berlin : 1999 Berlin ; New York : [1999] |
| Series: | Advances in anatomy, embryology, and cell biology ;
v. 149 Advances in anatomy, embryology, and cell biology ; v. 149 Advances in anatomy, embryology, and cell biology v. 149 |
| Subjects: |
| Summary: | Morphogeny of the nasal skull was investigated in 29 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 results are in a conspicuous accordance with the most recent molecular biological investigations on this topic The translocation of the nostrils to the highest point of the surfacing body is among the most perfect adaptions 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 |
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| Physical Description: | vi, 145 p. : ill. ; 24 cm viii, 143 p. : ill. ; 24 cm viii, 143 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-143) Includes bibliographical references (pages 133-143) Includes bibliographical references and index |
| ISBN: | 3540649964 (softcover : acid-free paper) 3540649964 (softcover : alk. paper) 3540649964 9783540649960 (softcover : acid-free paper) 9783540649960 |