Sérgio's third PhD paper on comparative masticatory myology in anteaters and its implications for interpreting morphological convergence in myrmecophagous placentals has just been published in PeerJ (https://peerj.com/articles/9690/). This paper is based on both classical and digital dissections using contrast-enhanced µ-CT scanning of masticatory muscles on heads of the pygmy (Cyclopes didactylus), collared (Tamandua tetradactyla) and giant (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) anteaters. We found that pygmy anteaters (Cyclopedidae) present a relatively larger and architecturally complex temporal musculature than collared and giant anteaters (Myrmecophagidae), but show a reduced masseter musculature, including the loss of the deep masseter concurring with the loss of the jugal bone. Comparisons with convergently evolved pangolins and aardvarks revealed distinct anatomies despite morphological and ecological convergences related to the myrmecophagous lifestyle in these divergent lineages. 3D-models associated with this publication are freely available to download from MorphoMuseuM (https://morphomuseum.com/articles/view/114). Congrats Sérgio for this encyclopedic anatomical work!
Citations:
Ferreira-Cardoso S., Fabre P.-H., de Thoisy B., Delsuc F., Hautier L. (2020). Comparative masticatory myology in anteaters and its implications for interpreting morphological convergence in myrmecophagous placentals. PeerJ 8:e9690. doi:10.7717/peerj.9690
Ferreira-Cardoso S., Fabre P.-H., de Thoisy B., Delsuc F. & Hautier L. (2020). 3D models related to the publication: “Comparative masticatory myology in anteaters and its implications for interpreting morphological convergence in myrmecophagous placentals”. MorphoMuseuM 6:e114. doi:10.18563/journal.m3.114