ISSN:
0362-2525
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
A statistical and functional relationship between neural canal anatomy and locomotor mode is demonstrated in living marine mammals of the Order Carnivora. This relationship is interpreted to be the result of differential innervation and territory of musculature involved in generating the six locomotor patterns analyzed. This osteological reflection of a behavioral trait allows prediction of locomotor pattern in extinct genera of closely related taxa. The robust data allow such predictions even when a considerable number of presacral vertebrae are missing in the fossil specimens. In some cases, these predictions conflict with interpretations based solely on limb osteology. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Material:
9 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1052140311
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