The ear in subterranean insectivora and rodentia in comparison with ground‐dwelling representatives. I. Sound conducting system of the middle ear

Compared to acoustically unspecialized mammals (soricids and murids), the middle ear of subterranean insectivores and rodents (twelve species of six families examined) was clearly distinguished and characterized by many common features: rather round and relatively larger eardrum without a pars flaccida; reduced gonial; loose or no connection between the malleus and the tympanic bone; reduced and straightened transversal part of the malleus; enlarged incus; increased and rather flat incudo‐mallear joint; rather parallel position of the mallear manubrium and incudal crus longum in some species (and their fusion in abthyergids); reduced or even missing middle ear muscles. Convergent occurrence of these structural features in taxa of different origin and their generally derived character suggest that they cannot be categorized as degenerative. The form of the stapes can be considered as a non‐adaptive trait; it was taxon specific yet remarkably polymorphous in some species and exhibited no convergent features among subterranean mammals. Structural retrogression resulting in a columella‐like stapes was observed in some species lacking the stapedial artery. The stapedial base was relatively larger than in unspecialized mammals. The subterranean mammals did not exhibit conspicuously enlarged eardrums as would be required for sensitive tuning to low frequencies. It is, however, argued that while selective pressures in the subterranean ecotope promoted hearing of low frequencies, hearing sensitivity did not have to be enhanced. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.