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Convergent evolution towards a permanently descended and mobile larynx in some species of mammals
Author(s) -
Frey Roland,
Charlton Benjamin,
Reby David,
Volodina Elena,
Volodin Ilya,
Wyman Megan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.342.2
Subject(s) - larynx , biology , convergent evolution , vocal tract , anatomy , evolutionary biology , adaptation (eye) , zoology , ecology , phylogenetics , gene , neuroscience , biochemistry , physics , acoustics
In most mammals the larynx has a high resting position close to the root of the tongue. An exception to this are humans with a descended larynx. Some other species of mammals convergently evolved a permanently descended larynx: red and fallow deer among cervids, Mongolian and goitred gazelle among bovids, lion and tiger among felids, the koala among marsupials. Permanent descent of the larynx involves an elongation of the vocal tract. In addition, the non‐human species convergently evolved a mobile larynx allowing further momentary vocal tract extension during calls. Convergent evolution illustrates selection pressures towards evolution of a descended and mobile larynx in some species of mammals arising from reproduction‐relevant acoustic communication in the respective social systems.