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Comparative postnatal ontogeny of the skull in the australidelphian metatherian Dasyurus albopunctatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuromorpha: Dasyuridae)
Author(s) -
Flores David A.,
Giannini Norberto,
Abdala Fernando
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.10420
Subject(s) - biology , ontogeny , marsupial , skull , allometry , zoology , anatomy , ecology , genetics
We describe the cranial ontogeny of an australidelphian marsupial, Dasyurus albopunctatus , using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. We examined in detail qualitative morphological changes of just‐weaned individuals as compared to old adults; specifically, changes in 31 morphological structures (e.g., processes, foramina) and 38 changes in cranial joints. We also interpreted growth‐invariant structures in terms of their functional relevance. We performed a multivariate allometry analysis based on 14 cranial measurements taken from 31 specimens encompassing the entire postweaning period. Three variables (height of occipital plate, breadth of braincase, and height of mandible) showed the same allometric trends in D. albopunctatus and the three marsupial species studied previously in the same framework ( Didelphis albiventris, Lutreolina crassicaudata, and Dromiciops gliroides ). In addition, D. albopunctatus shared allometric trends in two variables (length of the upper postcanine row and length of the orbit) with the microbiotheriid D. gliroides . Most of the growth trends observed are interpreted as linked to the predominantly carnivorous dietary habit of adult D. albopunctatus . Because dasyuromorphians are most likely basal to the major Australasian radiation of marsupials, knowledge of ontogenetic changes in D. albopunctatus may shed light on the evolution of ontogeny in the highly diverse Australasian marsupial fauna. J. Morphol. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.