The masticatory apparatus of the American mastodon (Mammut americanum)

Laub, Richard S.

doi:10.3138/9781487574154-020

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…, 1989). A similar function was suggested by Laub (1996) for the linguoid process of the proboscidean mandible.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…comm.). However, Laub (1996) describes a lingula in Mammut americanum and we observed a large linguoid process in a number of Loxodonta africana mandibles. Amongst South American Cuvieronius hyodon , a short‐jawed gomphothere, the linguoid process is variously developed, from a small, barely notable prominence, to a well‐individualized spine.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 49%

“…1B). The coronoid canal opens anteriorly in the coronoid foramen, located medially at the base of the coronoid process, possibly representing the exit of a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve and artery (Laub, 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anatomy and phylogenetic value of the mandibular and coronoid canals and their associated foramina in proboscideans (Mammalia)

Ferretti¹,

Debruyne²

2010

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

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Characters associated with the mandibular canal are differently distributed amongst proboscidean lineages and provide useful information on the systematics and relationships of proboscideans. The aim of this paper is to describe the pattern of the mandibular canal and its associated foramina in proboscideans in order to fully appreciate the extent of interspecific variation of these structures within the group and to discuss its systematic and phylogenetic value. Outgroup comparison indicates that the condition presented by the basal proboscidean Phosphatherium is morphotypic for proboscideans. Primitive proboscidean characters are: the low position of the mandibular foramen, and its crescent-shaped outline, the occurrence of a coronoid foramen (canal), the occurrence of two lateral mental foramina, the posterior one at the level of (or slightly behind) the posterior margin of the symphysis, the anterior one in a more distal position, the absence of a medial mental foramen (MMF), the mandibular canal set just below the tooth row. The occurrence of a single lateral mental foramen may represent a shared derived character of Daouitherium, Numidotherium, and Barytherium. A unique derived feature of the Elephantinae mandible is the occurrence of a medial mental foramen on the medial side of the incisive part of the mandible. MMFs have never been observed in other proboscideans excluding elephantines. The very high frequency of MMFs observed in Mammuthus meridionalis-Mammuthus trogontherii-Mammuthus primigenius (>93 per cent of the studied specimens) could be considered a synapomorphy of this group.

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“…, 1989). A similar function was suggested by Laub (1996) for the linguoid process of the proboscidean mandible.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 49%

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Anatomy and phylogenetic value of the mandibular and coronoid canals and their associated foramina in proboscideans (Mammalia)

Ferretti¹,

Debruyne²

2010

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

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“…We prioritized sampling the central enamel bands for all specimens ( Fig. 1C-E) to maintain consistency with past studies of DMTA in proboscideans (Green et al 2017;Zhang et al 2017; Smith and DeSantis 2018) and because sampling these areas reduces the amount of variation in microwear features attributable to differences in the direction of the power stroke during mastication (e.g., Laub 1996;Todd et al 2007;von Koenigswald 2016). The molds were then cast at Vanderbilt University using a high-resin epoxy (Epotek 301) and dried in a fume hood for at least 72 hours before analysis.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extinction of North AmericanCuvieronius(Mammalia: Proboscidea: Gomphotheriidae) driven by dietary resource competition with sympatric mammoths and mastodons

Smith

DeSantis

2020

Paleobiology

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The gomphotheres were a diverse and widespread group of proboscideans occupying Eurasia, North America, and South America throughout the Neogene. Their decline was temporally and spatially heterogeneous, and the gomphotheres ultimately became extinct during the late Pleistocene; however, the genus Cuvieronius is rarely represented in late Pleistocene assemblages in North America. Two alternative hypotheses have been invoked to explain this phenomenon: (1) competitive exclusion by sympatric mammoths and mastodons or (2) ecologic displacement due to an environmental transition from closed forests to open grasslands. To test whether competition for resources contributed to the demise of North American Cuvieronius, we present herein a large collection of stable isotope and dental microwear data from populations occupying their Pleistocene refugium in the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Results suggest that Cuvieronius consumed a wide range of resources with variable textural and photosynthetic properties and was not specialized on either grasses or browse. Further, we document evidence for the consumption of similar foods between contemporaneous gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. The generalist feeding strategy of the gomphotheres likely facilitated their high Miocene abundance and diversity. However, this “jack of all trades and master of none” feeding strategy may have proved challenging following the arrival of mammoths and likely contributed to the extirpation of Cuvieronius in North America.

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Of tusks and trunks: A review of craniofacial evolutionary anatomy in elephants and extinct Proboscidea

Nabavizadeh

2024

The Anatomical Record

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While being the largest living terrestrial mammals, elephants are best known for their highly modified and uniquely elaborate craniofacial anatomy—most notably with respect to their often‐massive tusks and intricately muscular, multifunctional proboscis (i.e., trunk). For over a century, studies of extinct proboscidean relatives of today's elephants have presented hypotheses regarding the evolutionary history of the crania and tusks of these animals and their bearing on the evolution of the proboscis. Herein, I explore major functional characteristics of the proboscidean head. I give a brief review of the anatomy of tusks and dentition, the feeding apparatus, and proboscis in extant elephants and explore their overall bearing in elephant feeding behavior as well as other aspects of their ecology. I also review the evolution of the proboscidean head, with a synthetic analysis of studies and further speculation exploring the interconnected evolutionary roles of tusk morphology and use, feeding anatomy and functional implications thereof, and proboscis anatomy and use in the ancestry of elephants. Notable emphasis is given to the evolutionary role of initial elongation of the mandibular symphysis in the development of the proboscis in many proboscideans. Subsequent secondary shortening of the symphysis and elevation of the temporal region and occiput allowed for a pendulous trunk and proal feeding in living elephants and other proboscidean groups with highly lophodont dentition.

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The masticatory apparatus of the American mastodon (Mammut americanum)

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Anatomy and phylogenetic value of the mandibular and coronoid canals and their associated foramina in proboscideans (Mammalia)

Anatomy and phylogenetic value of the mandibular and coronoid canals and their associated foramina in proboscideans (Mammalia)

Extinction of North AmericanCuvieronius(Mammalia: Proboscidea: Gomphotheriidae) driven by dietary resource competition with sympatric mammoths and mastodons

Of tusks and trunks: A review of craniofacial evolutionary anatomy in elephants and extinct Proboscidea

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