Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus
Penguins have undergone dramatic changes associated with the evolution of underwater flight and subsequent loss of aerial flight, which are manifest and well documented in the musculoskeletal system and integument. Significant modification of neurosensory systems and endocranial spaces may also be e...
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ftnmscotlanddc:oai:hyku:1f56a6a1-d4e5-463c-9dfc-869d5ffcf7fc 2023-05-15T13:57:50+02:00 Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus Revan, A Balanoff, Amy M Ksepka, D T Ho, A Walsh, Stig A 2012-09-09 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00835.x/abstract unknown Wiley-Blackwell Zoological Journal Of The Linnean Society http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00835.x/abstract Spheniscidae palaeoneurology computed tomography neuroanatomy Article 2012 ftnmscotlanddc 2022-07-28T20:37:25Z Penguins have undergone dramatic changes associated with the evolution of underwater flight and subsequent loss of aerial flight, which are manifest and well documented in the musculoskeletal system and integument. Significant modification of neurosensory systems and endocranial spaces may also be expected along this locomotor transition. However, no investigations of the brain and sensory organs of extinct stem lineage Sphenisciformes have been carried out, and few data exist even for extant species of Spheniscidae. In order to explore neuroanatomical evolution in penguins, we generated virtual endocasts for the early Miocene stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus, three extant penguin species (Pygoscelis antarctica, Aptenodytes patagonicus, Spheniscus magellanicus), and two outgroup species (the common loon Gavia immer and the Laysan albatross Phoebastria immutabilis). These endocasts yield new anatomical data and phylogenetically informative characters from the brain, carotid arteries, pneumatic recesses, and semicircular canal system. Despite having undergone over 60 million years of evolution since the loss of flight, penguins retain many attributes traditionally linked to flight. Features associated with visual acuity and proprioception, such as the sagittal eminence and flocculus, show a similar degree of development to those of volant birds in the three extant penguins and Paraptenodytes antarcticus. These features, although clearly not flight-related in penguins, are consistent with the neurological demands associated with rapid manoeuvring in complex aquatic environments. Semicircular canal orientation in penguins is similar to volant birds. Interestingly, canal radius is grossly enlarged in the fossil taxon Pa. antarcticus compared to living penguins and outgroups. In contrast to all other living birds, the contralateral anterior tympanic recesses of extant penguins do not communicate. An interaural pathway connecting these recesses is retained in Pa. antarcticus, suggesting that stem penguins may ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica antarcticus Pygoscelis antarctica National Museums Scotland (NMS) Research Repository |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
National Museums Scotland (NMS) Research Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftnmscotlanddc |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Spheniscidae palaeoneurology computed tomography neuroanatomy |
spellingShingle |
Spheniscidae palaeoneurology computed tomography neuroanatomy Revan, A Balanoff, Amy M Ksepka, D T Ho, A Walsh, Stig A Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus |
topic_facet |
Spheniscidae palaeoneurology computed tomography neuroanatomy |
description |
Penguins have undergone dramatic changes associated with the evolution of underwater flight and subsequent loss of aerial flight, which are manifest and well documented in the musculoskeletal system and integument. Significant modification of neurosensory systems and endocranial spaces may also be expected along this locomotor transition. However, no investigations of the brain and sensory organs of extinct stem lineage Sphenisciformes have been carried out, and few data exist even for extant species of Spheniscidae. In order to explore neuroanatomical evolution in penguins, we generated virtual endocasts for the early Miocene stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus, three extant penguin species (Pygoscelis antarctica, Aptenodytes patagonicus, Spheniscus magellanicus), and two outgroup species (the common loon Gavia immer and the Laysan albatross Phoebastria immutabilis). These endocasts yield new anatomical data and phylogenetically informative characters from the brain, carotid arteries, pneumatic recesses, and semicircular canal system. Despite having undergone over 60 million years of evolution since the loss of flight, penguins retain many attributes traditionally linked to flight. Features associated with visual acuity and proprioception, such as the sagittal eminence and flocculus, show a similar degree of development to those of volant birds in the three extant penguins and Paraptenodytes antarcticus. These features, although clearly not flight-related in penguins, are consistent with the neurological demands associated with rapid manoeuvring in complex aquatic environments. Semicircular canal orientation in penguins is similar to volant birds. Interestingly, canal radius is grossly enlarged in the fossil taxon Pa. antarcticus compared to living penguins and outgroups. In contrast to all other living birds, the contralateral anterior tympanic recesses of extant penguins do not communicate. An interaural pathway connecting these recesses is retained in Pa. antarcticus, suggesting that stem penguins may ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Revan, A Balanoff, Amy M Ksepka, D T Ho, A Walsh, Stig A |
author_facet |
Revan, A Balanoff, Amy M Ksepka, D T Ho, A Walsh, Stig A |
author_sort |
Revan, A |
title |
Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus |
title_short |
Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus |
title_full |
Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus |
title_fullStr |
Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus |
title_full_unstemmed |
Evolution of the brain and sensory organs in Sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin Paraptenodytes antarcticus |
title_sort |
evolution of the brain and sensory organs in sphenisciformes: new data from the stem penguin paraptenodytes antarcticus |
publisher |
Wiley-Blackwell |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00835.x/abstract |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica antarcticus Pygoscelis antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica antarcticus Pygoscelis antarctica |
op_relation |
Zoological Journal Of The Linnean Society http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00835.x/abstract |
_version_ |
1766265738175184896 |