Herpetotherium fugax, Cope, 1873

Selva, Charlène & Ladevèze, Sandrine, 2016, Computed microtomography investigation of the skull of Cuvier’s famous ‘ opossum’ (Marsupialiformes, Herpetotheriidae) from the Eocene of Montmartre, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 180 (3), pp. 672-693 : 690-691

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https://doi.org/10.1111/zoj.12495

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Herpetotherium fugax
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sure of H. cf. fugax forms a ‘handle’ that is directed nent rounded promontorium, whereas H. cf. f ugax

© 2016 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2017, 180, 672–693

INSIDE THE SKULL OF CUVIER’S ‘OPOSSUM’ 691

shows a much less prominent promontorium. Per- REFERENCES atherium cuvieri has a relictual anterior lamina,

whereas this feature is absent in H. cf. fugax and Archer M. 1976. The basicranial region of marsupicarni- M. murina . A last example: the hiatus fallopii is vores (Marsupialia), interrelationships of carnivorous mamintermediate in position in M. marmosa and P. cu- mals, and affinities of the insectivorous marsupial vieri, but is entirely dorsal in H. cf. fugax . To con- peramelids. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 59: tinue the work of Horovitz et al. (2009), it would be 217 – 322.

relevant to integrate the new features of P. cuvieri Beck R, Travouillon KJ, Aplin KP, Godthelp H, Archer in a phylogenetic framework. Moreover, the virtual M. 2014. The osteology and systematics of the enigmatic extraction through CT scanning of the petrosal bones Australian Oligo-Miocene Metatherian Yalkaparidon of P. elegans and A. minutum would represent a cru- ( Yalkaparidontidae ;Yalkaparidontia;?Australidelphia; Marcial step to delimit the species (additionally or supialia). Journal of Mammalian Evolution 21: 127 – 172.

instead of dental characters), and furthermore would Billet G, Germain D, Ruf I, de Muizon C, Hautier L. help resolve the relationship of Herpetotheriidae to 2013. The inner ear of Megatherium and the evolution of other metatherians, a critical phylogenetic issue to the vestibular system in sloths. Journal of Anatomy 223: better understand the origin of Marsupialia and 557 – 567.

didelphids. Crochet J-Y. 1980. Les Marsupiaux Du Tertiaire d’Europe. Paris: Editions de la Fondation Singer-Polignac, 279.

Besides the characters related to its external mor- Cuvier G. 1804. Memoire sur le squelette presque entier phology, the petrosal houses the bony labyrinth (or d’un petit quadrupede du genre des sarigues, trouve dans osseous inner ear), which is the site of hearing and la pierre a � pl^atre des environs de Paris. Annales Du balance functions. The semicircular canals of the ver- Museum d’Histoire Naturelle V(XIII): 277 – 292.

tebrate labyrinth are known to help coordinate body Dollot A, Godbille P, Ramond G. 1905. Les grandes movements, such as stabilization of the eye during platrieres ^d’Argenteuil (Seine-et-Oise), Historique, Genese locomotion (e.g., Spoor et al., 2007; Billet et al., des formations gypseuses de la region parisienne. Memoires 2013). Such features highlighted in P. cuvieri would de la societe geologique de France IV(I): 1 – 47.

therefore help in determining locomotor habits in fos- Fisher JB. 1829. Synopsis mammalium. Sumtibus J.G. Cotsil metatherians. tae. Stuttgardtiae. 752.

Gabbert SL. 1998. Basicranial anatomy of Herpetotherium ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (Marsupialia: Didelphimorphia ) from the Eocene of Wyoming. American Museum Novitates 3235: 1 – 13.

This work was financially supported by the ‘ATM Goguel J, Soyer R. 1973. Carte geologique de la France a Formes 2014’, especially for the scans of the com- 1/50 000: Paris, XXIII-14 (feuille 183). 3eme edition. parison specimens and the financial support for a Orleans: BRGM.

master’s student. We are grateful to Robin Beck Gradstein FM, Ogg JG, Schmitz MD, Ogg GM. 2012. The (University of Salford) and Thomas Macrini (St Geologic Time Scale 2012, Vol. 1 & 2. First edition. Oxford: Mary’s University San Antonio) for their comments Elsevier BV.

that greatly improved our article. We are indebted Hooker JJ, S anchez-Villagra � MR, Goin FJ, Simons EL, to many colleagues from the MNHN: Gael Clement, Attia Y, Seiffert ER. 2008. The origin of Afro-Arabian for the financial support for the scan of the Sarigue ‘didelphimorph’ marsupials. Palaeontology 51: 635 – 648.

de Cuvier; Miguel Garcia Sanz, operator of the Horovitz I, Ladev � eze S, Argot C, Hooker JJ, Macrini AST-RX platform; Florent Goussard, in charge of TE, Martin T, Kurz C, de Muizon C, S anchez-Villagra � the 3D platform for technical advice and help dur- MR. 2008. The anatomy of Herpetotherium fugax Cope ing post-processing; Kevin Le Verger, for his invalu- 1873, a metatherian from the Oligocene of North America. able help with segmentation of the skull; Christine Palaeontographica Abteilung A 284: 109 – 141.

Argot, for access to the palaeontological collection; Horovitz I, Martin T, Bloch J, Ladeveze � S, Kurz C,

Geraldine Veron, for access to the comparative col- S anchez-Villagra � MR. 2009. Cranial anatomy of the earliest lections of mammals; Lilian Cazes, for the great marsupials and the origin of opossums. PLoS ONE 4: e8278.

photographs of Cuvier’s ‘opossum’, especially with Ladev eze � S. 2004. Metatherian petrosals from the Late the focus-stacking technique; Bernard Duhem, sci- Paleocene of Itabora�ı ( Brazil), and their phylogenetic implientific designer at the UMS 2700, for the beautiful cations. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 24: 202 – 213.

restoration of the Sarigue de Cuvier; Malcolm San- Ladev eze � S, de Muizon C. 2007. The auditory region of ders, for advice and technical help concerning early Paleocene Pucadelphydae ( Mammalia, Metatheria) PHOTOSHOP and ILLUSTRATOR that was very from Tiupampa, Bolivia, with phylogenetic implications. useful in the elaboration of the illustrations; and Palaeontology 50: 1123 – 1154.

Sophie Fernandez, scientific graphic artist, for her Ladev eze � S, de Muizon C. 2010. Evidence of early evolu-

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