Summary
The structure of the sound-transmitting apparatus in primitive snakes (Scolecophidia, Henophidia) is reviewed and compared with that of advanced snakes (Caenophidia) and of some fossorial lizards. Assuming a constant course of the chorda tympani, the ophidian stylohyal can be homologized with the intercalary cartilage of lizards while the cartilaginous distal portion of the ophidian stapes represents the internal process. The cladistic significance of the stapes-quadrate-articulation in the Henophidia and Caenophidia is discussed. The Booidea and the Caenophidia show a shift of the stapes-quadrate-articulation which is correlated with changes in the suspensorium as an adaptation to relatively larger prey. However, convergence cannot be ruled out. Dibamus is shown to be the only lizard known so far which approaches the ophidian middle ear structure. Convergence has to be assumed since there is no sign of a stylohyal in Dibamus and since the course of the ramus communicans externus n. facialis cum glossopharyngeo supports the hypothesis that snakes are to be derived from a pre-lacertilian stage of lepidosaurian evolution.
Zusammenfassung
Die Struktur des schalleitenden Apparates im Mittelohr primitiver Schlangen (Scolecophidia, Henophidia) wird beschrieben und mit höheren Schlangen (Caenophidia) sowie mit einigen grabenden Lacertiliern verglichen. Unter der Annahme eines konstanten Verlaufes der Chorda tympani lässt sich das Stylohyale der Schlangen mit dem Processus dorsalis homologisieren, während das knorpelige distale Ende des Stapes der Schlangen dem Processus internus entspricht. Die kladistischen Implikationen der Struktur des Mittelohres werden diskutiert. Die Booidea und die Caenophidia zeigen eine Verschiebung das Stapes-Quadratum-Gelenkes, welche möglicherweise mit Änderungen der Proportionen des Suspensoriums als Anpassung an relativ grössere Beute zusammenhängt. Konvergenz kann hierbei nicht ausgeschlossen werden. Dibamus ist die einzige bislang bekannte Echse welche im Bau des Mittelohres den Schlangen nahe kommt. Allerdings ist Konvergenz anzunehmen, da Dibamus keinerlei Hinweis auf das Vorhandensein eines Stylohyale liefert, und da der Verlauf des Ramus communicans externus n. facialis cum glossopharyngeo die Hypothese stützt, dass Schlangen nicht von rezenten Unterordnungen der Lacertilier abgeleitet werden können.
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Abbreviations
- chr:
-
chorda tympani
- ci:
-
carotis interior
- crst:
-
cartilaginous distal extension of the stapedial shaft
- dper:
-
ductus perilymphaticus
- fc:
-
carotis facialis
- par:
-
articulatory process of quadrate
- pt:
-
pterygoid
- q:
-
quadrate
- rce:
-
ramus communicans externus
- rci:
-
ramus communicans internus
- st:
-
supratemporal
- stp:
-
stapes
- sty:
-
stylohyal
- vcl:
-
vena capitis lateralis
- lX:
-
n. glossopharyngeus
- Vllhy :
-
ramus hyomandibularis of facial nerve
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Rieppel, O. The sound-transmitting apparatus in primitive snakes and its phylogenetic significance. Zoomorphology 96, 45–62 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310076
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310076