Can I read Comparative postnatal ontogeny of the skull in the australidelphian metatherian Dasyurus albopunctatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuromorpha: Dasyuridae) on EtoBox?

Comparative postnatal ontogeny of the skull in the australidelphian metatherian Dasyurus albopunctatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuromorpha: Dasyuridae) by David A. Flores; Norberto Giannini; Fernando Abdala is a Environmental Science article available to read on EtoBox.

What is Comparative postnatal ontogeny of the skull in the australidelphian metatherian Dasyurus albopunctatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuromorpha: Dasyuridae) about?

## Abstract 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

Who reads Comparative postnatal ontogeny of the skull in the australidelphian metatherian Dasyurus albopunctatus (Marsupialia: Dasyuromorpha: Dasyuridae)?

Author

David A. Flores; Norberto Giannini; Fernando Abdala

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons; Wiley (John Wiley & Sons); John Wiley & Sons Inc.; Wiley (ISSN 0362-2525)

Published

2006

Language

EN

Field

Environmental Science (Physical Sciences)