Anguidae
|
publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz035 |
|
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9C298799-D27E-5A06-FF2D-FEC82571AC3B |
|
treatment provided by |
Plazi (2025-02-06 23:52:41, last updated 2025-02-07 00:53:56) |
|
scientific name |
Anguidae |
| status |
|
Anguidae View in CoL View at ENA ( Figs 34 View Figure 34 , 40L, M View Figure 40 )
In anguids, the alar process is long and wide with a rounded anterior end. The paroccipital projection is moderately long. The incisura prootica is U-shaped, very deep and wide, and the facial foramen, which opens laterally in a shallow entocarotid fossa, is also wide. The crista prootica is low ( Anguis gr. An. fragilis ; Fig. 34B View Figure 34 ) or moderately developed ( Pseudopus apodus ; Fig. 34G View Figure 34 ) and moderately robust; it can also be slightly irregular. The anteriormost and posteriormost portions of the crista are almost unrecognizable. The posterior opening of the Vidian canal opens on the ventral surface of the anterior inferior process of the prootic, ventrally to the facial foramen or slightly anteriorly. Only a reduced portion of the recessus vena jugularis is, therefore, visible posterior to it. In disarticulated specimens, the canal appears as a groove, since its lateral wall is composed by the crista ventrolateralis of the sphenoid.
OTOOCCIPITAL
The otooccipital ( Fig. 41 View Figure 41 ) is a paired bone made up by the complete fusion of exoccipital and opisthotic, which are not recognizable as separate elements. Each otooccipital takes part in composing the occipital condyle. The posterior semicircular canal is visible on the posterior surface of the bone, running vertically and continuing dorsally on the supraoccipital. Few foramina are located between the ventral end of the posterior semicircular canal and the occipital condyle. The vagus foramen is the largest and most dorsally located of these foramina. The other ones are the hypoglossal foramina, whose number is highly variable. On the lateral side of the otooccipital is the well-developed paroccipital process that is roughly rectangular in posterior view. The posterior portion of the horizontal semicircular canal is visible by the base of this process. The crista interfenestralis marks the dorsal margin of the lateral opening of the recessus scalae tympani, running anteroventrally from the paroccipital process on the lateral surface of the otooccipital. The posterior portion of the inner ear is enclosed by this bone. It houses the posterior walls of the cavum capsularis and of the cochlear cavity, located dorsally and ventrally, respectively. There are no ridges or grooves separating the two cavities, but the openings of the ampullary recess ventrally and of the utricular recess dorsally are visible inside the cavum capsularis. The openings of the horizontal semicircular canal and the posterior semicircular canal are present laterally and dorsally to the cavum, respectively. Inside the cochlear cavity is the perilymphatic foramen, opening in the recessus scalae tympani. The otooccipital contacts the basioccipital ventrally, the prootic anteriorly and the supraoccipital dorsally, fusing with them.
Figure 34. Braincases (continued). A–E, Anguis gr. An. fragilis (MDHC 102), braincase in anterior (A), left lateral (B), posterior (C), dorsal (D) and ventral (E) views (the parasphenoid rostrum is broken). F–J, Pseudopus apodus (MDHC 215), braincase in anterior (F), right lateral (G), posterior (H), dorsal (I) and ventral (J) views (the anterior end of the sphenoid and the basipterygoid processes are broken). Scale bars = 1 mm.
Figure 40. Prootics. A–C, Laudakia stellio (MDHC 245), right prootic in lateral (A), medial (B) and posterior (C) views. D–E, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (NHMW 611), left prootic in lateral (D) and medial (E) views. F–G, Po. muralis (MDHC 312), left prootic in medial (F) and posterior (G) views. H–I, H. graeca (MDHC 423), right prootic in medial (H) and posterior (I) views. J–K, Chalcides striatus (MDHC 404), right prootic in medial (J) and posterior (K) views. L–M, Anguis gr.An. fragilis (MDHC 49), left prootic in medial (L) and posterior (M) views. Abbreviations: aaf, anterior acoustic foramen; aip, anterior inferior process; amr, ampullary recess; ap, alar process; ar, acoustic recess; asc, anterior semicircular canal; ca, crista alaris; cac, cavum capsularis; ccr, cochlear crest; coc, cochlear cavity; cp, crista prootica; ff, facial foramen; gpd, groove for the perilymphatic duct; hsc, horizontal semicircular canal; ip, incisura prootica; paf, posterior acoustic foramen; pp, posterior process; ppp, projection of the posterior process; sf, notch of the sphenoccipital foramen; stp, superior trabecular process. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Figure 41. Otooccipitals. A–D, Laudakia stellio (MDHC 245), left otooccipital in anterior (A), medial (B), lateral (C) and posterior (D) views. E–G, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (HUJ.OST-Z-425), right otooccipital in anterior (E), lateral (F) and posterior (G) views (the distal portion of the paroccipital process is broken). H, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (MNHN 2002-24), right otooccipital articulated with the basioccipital in posterior view. I–J, Po. muralis (MDHC 312), right otooccipital in anterior (I) and medial (J) views. K–L, Tr. aurata (MDHC 280), right otooccipital in anterior (K) and medial (L) views. M–N, Anguis gr. An. fragilis (MDHC 49), left otooccipital in anterior (M) and medial (N) views. Abbreviations: amr, ampullary recess; cac, cavum capsularis; coc, cochlear cavity; hf, hypoglossal foramen; hsc, horizontal semicircular canal; lrst, lateral opening of the recessus scalae tympani; oc, occipital condyle; pop, paroccipital process; psc, posterior semicircular canal; ur, utricular recess; vf, vagus foramen. Scale bars = 1 mm.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.