Microgale dobsoni, Thomas, 1884

ASHER, ROBERT J., 2001, Cranial Anatomy in Tenrecid Insectivorans: Character Evolution Across Competing Phylogenies, American Museum Novitates 3352, pp. 1-55 : 35

Microgale dobsoni (MPIH 1964/104)

The vomeronasal organ of Microgale is about 1.2 mm in length and extends posteriorly to a point close, but still anterior, to the first ethmoturbinal. It comprises roughly 14% of nasal fossa length (8.4 mm) and 8% of head length (15 mm). A large vein courses lateral to the vomeronasal organ on each side and forms the axis around which the organ has a kidney­shaped appearance (e.g., slice 280).

A J­shaped paraseptal cartilage supports the vomeronasal organ throughout its length, but at no point does the outer bar completely enclose the vomeronasal organ laterally. Anteriorly, the paired vomeronasal organ empties into the superior margin of each nasopalatine duct (slice 244; fig. 30). The nasopalatine canal is paired and connects the oral and nasal cavities on either side of the palatine papilla (slice 240). Lateral to the nasopalatine duct, an isolated nasopalatine duct cartilage is present (slice 244; fig. 30), showing no connection to other cartilages.

Immediately anterior to the nasopalatine duct, the inferior septal ridge is evident and is supported in part by the cartilage of the anterior transverse lamina (slice 220). The latter cartilage has a very narrow posterior connection to the paraseptal cartilage, dorsal to the frontal plane in which the nasopalatine ducts connect the oral and nasal cavities (slice 240).

Anterior to the premaxilla, a complete zona annularis is evident, connecting the nasal floor, sidewalls, and roof (slice 140). The superior alar cartilages of the external nose are evident in slice 80 and show a connection to the anterior nasal floor. Unlike the external nose of Potamogale (fig. 23A), no superiorly projecting cartilaginous spur is evident dorsally.