Neuroanatomy and inner ear labyrinths of the narwhal, Monodon monoceros, and beluga, Delphinapterus leucas (Cetacea: Monodontidae)

Journal of Anatomy
Rachel A RacicotNaoki Kohno

Abstract

Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) and belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) are the only extant members of the Monodontidae, and are charismatic Arctic-endemic cetaceans that are at risk from global change. Investigating the anatomy and sensory apparatuses of these animals is essential to understanding their ecology and evolution, and informs efforts for their conservation. Here, we use X-ray CT scans to compare aspects of the endocranial and inner ear labyrinth anatomy of extant monodontids and use the overall morphology to draw larger inferences about the relationship between morphology and ecology. We show that differences in the shape of the brain, vasculature, and neural canals of both species may relate to differences in diving and other behaviors. The cochleae are similar in morphology in the two species, signifying similar hearing ranges and a close evolutionary relationship. Lastly, we compare two different methods for calculating 90var - a calculation independent of body size that is increasingly being used as a proxy for habitat preference. We show that a 'direct' angular measurement method shows significant differences between Arctic and other habitat preferences, but angle measurements based on planes through the semicircular...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 16, 2019·Biology Letters·Rachel A RacicotJonathan H Geisler
Aug 26, 2020·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·Michelangelo BiscontiGiorgio Carnevale
Jul 11, 2020·BMC Biology·Ellen J CoombsAnjali Goswami
Jan 13, 2021·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Hiroto IchishimaHiroshi Sawamura
Sep 22, 2021·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Rachel Racicot

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