Summary
Surface structures of the echidna cochlea were investigated using a scanning electron microscope technique. It was found that unlike typical mammalian cochleas, the echidna cochlea possesses four rows of inner hair cells and 6–9 rows of outer hair cells, and that the arrangements of the stereocilia of the outer hair cells were not uniform throughout the length of the basilar membrane.
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We are grateful for the valuable advice given by Mr J. Nailon.
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Chen, C.S., Anderson, L.M. The inner ear structures of the echidna—An SEM study. Experientia 41, 1324–1326 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01952077
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01952077