Ecology and Biology of the Pacific Walrus,<i>Odobenus rosmarus divergens</i>Illiger

Fay, Francis H.

doi:10.3996/nafa.74.0001

Cited by 394 publications

(667 citation statements)

References 83 publications

(148 reference statements)

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“…The number of rows containing F-SCs in bearded seals is comparable to walruses (13-18 rows) (Fay, 1982). The HS of bearded seals was also flat, similar to walruses, without the beaded appearance that is observed in some phocids (e.g., ringed seals) (Hyvä rinen and Katajisto, 1984).…”

Section: Bearded Seal Mystacial F-scsmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…The number of mystacial F-SCs of bearded seals is the highest of any phocid and second only to walruses among all pinnipeds (Mohr, 1950;Yablokov and Klevezal, 1964;Ling, 1968Ling, , 1972Ling, , 1977Stephens et al, 1973;Fay, 1982;Hyvä rinen and Katajisto, 1984;Hyvä rinen, 1989). The number of rows containing F-SCs in bearded seals is comparable to walruses (13-18 rows) (Fay, 1982).…”

Section: Bearded Seal Mystacial F-scsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…vibrissae, but they are able to use them to manipulate food and inanimate objects (Fay, 1982;Marshall et al, 1998aMarshall et al, , 1998bMarshall et al, , 2003. In fact, Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) possess a tactile resolving power similar to the trunk of Asian elephants (Elephas maximas) (Bachteler and Dehnhardt, 1999).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is particularly true between benthic and nonbenthic foraging species. For example, the mystacial vibrissae of walruses and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus), two benthic foraging pinnipeds, are more numerous than nonbenthic foraging species, and these vibrissae are oriented on the anterior end of a flat, broad muzzle, rather than on the lateral portions of the muzzle (Ling, 1977;Fay, 1982).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their numerous and broadly distributed mystacial vibrissae, for which they are named, are presumably an adaptation for discriminating benthic prey (King, 1983). This assumption seems reasonable given their dietary overlap with walruses, which are known to possess high discriminatory abilities using their vibrissae (Fay, 1982;Kastelein and van Gaalen, 1988;Kastelein et al, 1990). Presumably walrus's and bearded seal's use of vibrissae would be very different from that of ringed seals.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microstructure and innervation of the mystacial vibrissal follicle‐sinus complex in bearded seals, Erignathus barbatus (Pinnipedia: Phocidae)

et al. 2005

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Vibrissal follicle-sinus complexes (F-SCs) are sensory receptors of the mammalian integument system. They are best developed within Pinnipedia. The objective of this study was to investigate the F-SCs of bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) for benthic foraging adaptations. Bearded seals possessed approximately 244 mystacial F-SCs. In this species, F-SCs consisted of an outer dermal capsule (DC) surrounding a blood sinus system [upper cavernous sinus (UCS), ring sinus (RS), and lower cavernous sinus (LCS)] and concentric rings of epidermal tissue. The UCS comprised up to 62% of the F-SC length and may function as thermal protection for mechanoreceptors. A large asymmetrical ringwulst was located in the RS. A deep vibrissal nerve penetrated the DC at its base and terminated on mechanoreceptors in the epidermal tissues of the LCS and RS. The mean number of myelinated axons per F-SC was 1,314 (range, 811-1,650) and was among the highest number of axons per F-SC reported to date. An estimated mean number of 320,616 myelinated axons innervate the entire mystacial vibrissal array. Merkel-Neurite complexes (MNCs) and small simple laminated corpuscles were found in the region of the LCS. Myelinated axons also terminated on MNCs and lanceolate endings apical to the ringwulst. The number of F-SCs, their geometry in the mystacial region, the number of myelinated axons per F-SC, and the distribution of mechanoreceptors support the premise that pinniped vibrissae are sensitive active-touch receptor systems, and that structural differences in bearded seals, relative to other phocids, may be adaptations for benthic foraging.

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Section: Bearded Seal Mystacial F-scsmentioning

confidence: 87%