The Greater Antillean insectivores. Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 115, article 3
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Date
1958
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New York : [American Museum of Natural History]
DOI
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Abstract
"The two genera of West Indian insectivores, Solenodon and Nesophontes, have been placed in separate superfamilies, Tenrecoidea and Soricoidea, respectively. This classification is based primarily on the sculpture of the lingual portion of the upper molars. Examination of the skull, however, reveals very close agreement between the two genera, and this agreement is seen further in the form of the buccal portion of the molars. So close is the apparent relationship between the two genera that they are here placed in the same family, Solenodontidae. The fossil (Oligocene) genus Apternodus is not even a member of the same order (Lipotyphla) as its supposed relative Solenodon. Apternodus is so peculiarly specialized that its relationships are obscure, but its basicranial structure suggests creodont, rather than insectivore, affinities. Palaeoryctes (Puerco), supposed to be an ancestral zalambdodont, is not related to any of the living zalambdodont groups, bearing only an equivocal dental resemblance to modern forms and showing a creodont-like rather than lipotyphlan-like basicranium. It is suggested that the families Deltatheridiidae and Palaeoryctidae be merged, under the latter name. A classification of the lipotyphlous insectivores is presented, based primarily on cranial structure: Order Lipotyphla. Suborder Erinaceomorpha. Family Erinaceidae, family Dimylidae, family Talpidae. Suborder Soricomorpha. Superfamily Tenrecoidea. Family Tenrecidae, family Chrysochloridae. Superfamily Soricoidea. Family Solenodontidae, family Soricidae. Solenodon and Nesophontes appear to represent a line that separated from a presoricid stem not later than the Upper Eocene, and there is no reason to believe that the divergence of the two genera did not take place in the West Indies"--P. 210.
Description
p. 117-214 : ill. ; 27 cm.
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 210-214).
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 210-214).
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