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October 2007 - present
Publications
Publications (89)
Adult skulls of Crocidura russula and Sorex araneus have been studied by μCT and by histology. The virtual representations of these skulls in ventral view display the middle ear structures very clearly. It is evident that the ectotympanic rings, which frame the tympanic membrane, are significantly larger in Crocidura than in Sorex; simple measureme...
Modern phylogenetics place the Soricidae (shrews) into the order Lipotyphla, which belongs to the relatively new superorder clade Laurasiatheria. Their most derived skull feature is the unusual position and shape of the jaw articulation: Whereas in all other mammals the glenoid region of the squamosum is more or less tightly attached to the otic ca...
Gemäß der Deszendenztheorie von Charles Darwin beginnt die Genealogie des Menschen mit der Entstehung des Lebens (Biogenese) vor etwa dreieinhalb Milliarden Jahren. Mit den Methoden der Vergleichenden Ontogenetik läßt sich der evolutive Werdegang der tierischen Organismen, und damit auch des Menschen, recht zuverlässig rekonstruieren. Soweit fossil...
Ontogenese zieht die vertikale Halsretraktion bei Cryptodiren das Palatoquadratum in eine posterodorsale und -mediale Richtung. Die Seitenretraktion bei Pleurodiren verlagert das Palatoquadratum in eine posterolaterale und -mediale Richtung. Diese Mechanismen könn-ten in unterschiedlichen Positionen des Palatoquadratums in Relation zum Hirnschädel...
Zusammenfassung
de Alle neugeborenen Säugetiere sind auf intensive Brutpflege durch das Muttertier angewiesen; das gilt auch für die Schlüpflinge der eierlegenden Säugetiere (Monotremata). Die wichtigste Komponente dieser Brutpflege ist die Ernährung mit Muttermilch. Dieses Nährsekret muss von den Jungtieren aktiv eingesaugt werden. Die strukturell...
The anterior anchoring of the malleus of 30 extant species of Lagomorpha (rabbits, hares, pikas) has been studied on the basis of histological serial sections and µCT-scans. It is shown that former studies of Oryctolagus, Lepus, and Ochotona are incomplete, because the rostral part of the processus anterior of the malleus is always lacking due to d...
Gemäß der Deszendenztheorie von Charles Darwin beginnt die Genealogie des Menschen mit der Entstehung des Lebens (Biogenese) vor etwa dreieinhalb Milliarden Jahren. Mit den Methoden der Vergleichenden Ontogenetik läßt sich der evolutive Werdegang der tierischen Organismen, und damit auch des Menschen, recht zuverlässig rekonstruieren. Soweit fossil...
The anterior fixation of the anterior process of the malleus has been studied in a number of Cetartiodactyla. This anterior process, also known as processus gracilis, is provided by the prearticular (gonial), a dermal bone, whereas the cartilage of Meckel becomes resorbed in perinatal ontogenetic stages. Posteriorly, the prearticular fuses with the...
Here we present a brief, historical review of research into the mammalian middle ear structures. Most of their essential homologies were established by embryologists, notably including Reichert, during the 19th century. The evolutionary dimension was confirmed by finds of fossil synapsids, mainly from the Karroo of South Africa. In 1913, Ernst Gaup...
Earlier studies have shown that the epitensoric position of the chorda tympani is a systematically useful apomorphic character in some mammalian orders (primates, carnivores, rodents). Newly made histological serial sections of a fetal stage now reveal that Laonastes aenigmamus (Diatomyidae), a rodent species first described in 2005, is epitensoric...
Primitive mammals are considered macrosmatic. They have very large and complicated nasal capsules, nasal cavities with extensive olfactory epithelia, and relatively large olfactory bulbs. The complicated structures of the nasal capsule follow a relatively conservative “bauplan,” which is normally easy to see in earlier fetal stages; especially in a...
The mammalian nasal cavity is characterized by a unique anatomy with complex internal features. The evolution of turbinals was correlated with endothermic and macrosmatic adaptations in therapsids and in early mammals, which is still apparent in their twofold function (warming and moistening of air, olfaction). Fossil evidence for the transformatio...
Mit der Bezeichnung Makroevolution ist keine eigengesetzliche Makroevolution, sondern eine abstrahierende, verallgemeinernde Betrachtung größerer Evolutionsabläufe gemeint. Im Sinne der Darwinschen Evolutionstheorie und der „Modern Synthesis“ wird die Auffassung vertreten, daß der eigentliche Evolutionsprozeß mikroevolutiver Natur ist, indem aus va...
A broad sample of extant turtles possesses a series of paired bones in the neck that are situated between the cervical vertebrae. These paired bones were originally proposed to be cervical rib remnants, but have more recently been interpreted as vestiges of intercentra. Here, we document, for the first time, the neck development of a pleurodire tur...
The entotympanic is a neomorphic component of the bulla tympanica of placental mammals. Ontogenetically, its rostral component seems to be derived from the tubal cartilage, whereas its caudal component is normally connected with the sheath of the tympanohyal; the present study indicates additional sources of the caudal entotympanic. The entotympani...
In the majority of extant placental mammals the bulla tympanica is composed of two skeletal elements, the entotympanic and the ectotympanic. Former studies revealed that the presence of an entotympanic in the bulla tympanica of extant Perissodactyla is restricted to Rhinocerotidae. The existence of the entotympanic in Tapiridae and Equidae remained...
It is accepted in the literature that the levator veli palatini muscle of artiodactyls originates at the ectotympanic bone, a statement based on macroscopic dissection of adult specimens. The study of 34 histological serial sections of fetal heads of 23 species of artiodactyls revealed that this generalization must be modified: in the studied Camel...
The homologies of mammalian skull elements are now fairly well established, except for the controversial interparietal bone. A previous experimental study reported an intriguing mixed origin of the interparietal: the medial portion being derived from the neural crest cells, whereas the lateral portion from the mesoderm. The evolutionary history of...
The course of the chorda tympani through the middle ear in Diceros bicornis and Equus sp. (Perissodactyla) has been studied by histology and high resolution computed tomography (microCT). As shown in former studies, the topography of the chorda tympani and the tensor tympani muscle may be a useful character for phylogenetic systematics. In Diceros...
Die rezenten Wirbeltiere — die wir nun auf Grund ihres wichtigsten Schlüsselmerkmals generell Cranioten oder Schädeltiere nennen sollten (s. a. S. 5) — umfassen nah ezu 50.000 Arten. Nach allgemeinen Schätzungen sind dies etwa 1% der Tiere dieses
Taxons, die jemals existierten. Bis heute wurden mehrere zehntausend fossiler Arten nachgewiesen, und s...
Die Evolution des Wirbeltierkopfes ist ein klassisches Problemfeld der vergleichend en Morphologie. Bereits J.W. von Goethe (1749–1832) und L. Oken (1779–1851) vertraten die Idee eines aus Segmenten bestehenden Schädels. Die Segmente sollten umgewandelten Wirbeln entsprechen;
später wurden auch die Hirnnerven den segmentalen Spinalnerven des Rumpfe...
Wie die Myxinen (S. 192) sind auch die dorsal meist marmoriert bräunlich gefärbten Petromyzonten aalförmige Tiere. Bei ihnen
ist neben der Schwanzflosse eine mehr oder weniger geteilte Rückenflosse ausgebildet (Abb. 197). Ihre Augen sind groß und
ohne Lidbildung. Sie besitzen jederseits 7 Branchialporen; zusammen mit der unpaaren Nasenöffnung und e...
Schleimaale leben in Bodennähe bzw. im Schlamm eingegraben in allen Ozeanen bis in 2500 m Tiefe, bevorzugt in mehr als 30
m Tiefe in küstennahen Bereichen der gemäßigten Breiten. Geringere Salinität und vor allem Wassertemperaturen über 20°C sind
limitierende Faktoren für ihr Vorkommen, das sich daher in wärmeren Zonen auf größere Tiefen beschränkt...
An der Basis der Wirbeltiere standen kieferlose Organismen, vermutlich
mit Kiemendarm und noch filtrierender Lebensweise. Ihre wenigen heute
noch lebenden Nachkommen sind die Myxinoida (Schleimaale) und die
Petromyzontida (Neunaugen). Beide Taxa sind nur Relikte einer Vielzahl
und Vielfalt im frühen Paläozoikum (Ordovizium bis ins Devon:
vor 470-35...
Die anatomisdie Untersudiung mehrerer vollständiger Skelette des Insectivoren Macrocranion tupaiodon aus dem mittleren Eozän der, Grube Messe bei Darmstadt (BRD) ermoglicht Rück-schlüsse auf einige der wesentlidien biologisdien Grundanpassungen dieses Säugetiers. Der Größe und Körperform nach nidit unähnlidi den kleineren Tupaia-Arten, besitzt es d...
Morphological studies on the auditory bulla of marsupials
The resent study on the comparative anatomy of the marsupial auditory bulla starts with that of the didelphids; ontogenetic data are included. It becomes clear from these comparisons, that the marsupial bulla is throughout composed of the same skeletal elements. Contrary to widespread opinio...
The topographical relationship of the chorda tympani to the tensor tympani muscle in the middle ear region of rodents was recorded, finding that this character provides new phylogenetic information. For this purpose we examined histological serial sections of 63 rodent species representing most families. Two lagomorph species were used as an outgro...
A newly prepared palate of the moschorhinid therocephalian Promoschorhynchus platyrhinus from the Upper Permian region of South Africa was used for reconsidering the initial evolutionary development of the secondary palate of mammals. The very distinctive choanal crests are considered to be indicative of strong choanal folds that were probably alre...
The topographical relationship of the chorda tympani nerve (chorda tympani) to the tensor tympani muscle in the middle ear of carnivores provides new phylogenetic information. The examination of histological serial sections of 16 carnivore species representing most families revealed two distinct character states concerning the course of the chorda...
Many predatory deep-sea fishes show highly specialized modifications of their feeding apparatus, e.g., elongate jaws studded with long daggerlike teeth, often combined with a very distensible stomach, to be capable of swallowing relatively large prey. These striking features can be observed in members of the marine teleost family Stomiidae. The pre...
As is well known from human anatomy, the chorda tympani detaches from the facial nerve before its exit from the stylomastoid
foramen; recurving around the hyoid it enters the tympanic cavity via a small foramen in the facial canal (canaliculus chordae
tympani). Then, embedded in an epithelial fold, it passes between the crus longum of the incus and...
The holistic concepts of Hermann Weber for research on insect morphology including phylogenetic and ecological aspects are briefly presented. The insect organism is primarily seen as the product of its ontogenetic dynamics and its ecological adaptations. His understanding of the role of phylogenetic conditioning remained ambiguous. These ideas are...
The bony labyrinth of specimens representing eight diprotodontian species were visualized by high-resolution computed tomography. Linear measurements of the labyrinth were taken, e.g., the height and width of the arc of each semicircular canal. The relative sizes and spatial arrangements of the semicircular canals were compared and some of the vari...
The development of the scapula was studied in embryonic and postnatal specimens of Monodelphis domestica and perinatal specimens of Philander opossum, Caluromys philander, and Sminthopsis virginiae using histological sections and 3D reconstructions. Additionally, macerated skeletons of postnatal M. domestica were examined. This study focused on the...
SummaryFor the first time the cartilaginous nasal skeleton of the rostrum of adult soricids has been reconstructed on the basis of histological serial sections. The length of the cartilaginous nasal skeleton of Neomys fodiens is 8.4 mm, i.e. about 35% of the total head length, while that of Sorex araneus is 4 mm, i.e., about 20% of the head length....
The development of the shoulder girdle was studied in embryonic stages and a neonate of Crocidura russula using histological sections and 3-D reconstructions. Neonatal stages of Suncus etruscus and Mesocricetus auratus, both altricial placentals, were also studied. The earliest stage of C russula, in which the scapula is still partially blastematou...
Histological serial sections of fetal stages of various rodent taxa have been studied. We have concentrated on the ontogenetic differentiation of the infraorbital region in some hystricomorphs and myomorphs. The glirid taxa Graphiurus, Eliomys, Glis and Muscardinus show a specific mode of development of the medial masseter muscle that is clearly di...
Transverse sections of the skull of the Permian therocephalian Glanosuchus sp. were studied with regard to the structures of the middle ear region. It is generally accepted that most of the skeletal elements of the mammalian middle ear are derived from the postdentary bones of the lower jaw. During synapsid evolution there is a gradual transition f...
One of the most useful diagnostic therian features is the division of the lateral surface of the scapula into two fossae separated by a scapular spine. A new model to describe this evolutionary innovation based on ontogenetic data is provided, consistent with information provided by recent fossil discoveries. The development of the scapula in three...
Das Kompetenznetz Suchtforschung Nordrhein-Westfalen ist ein Zusammenschluss von Arbeitsgruppen der vier Universitaten Bonn, Dusseldorf, Essen und Munster. Das strukturelle Ziel ist der Aufbau einer dauerhaften Struktur klinisch-therapeutischer wie klinisch-experimenteller Suchtforschung in Nordrhein-Westfalen und der verbesserte Transfer von wisse...
This study is based on the examination of histological sections of specimens of different ages and of adult ossicles from macerated skulls representing a wide range of taxa and aims at addressing several issues concerning the evolution of the ear ossicles in marsupials. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the ear ossicles based on histological ser...
For the first time the cartilaginous nasal skeleton of the rostrum of adult soricids has been reconstructed on the basis of histological serial sections. The length of the cartilaginous nasal skeleton of Neomys fodiens is 8.4 mm, i. e. about 35% of the total head length, while that of Sorex araneus is 4 mm, i. e., about 20% of the head length. Howe...
The network on addiction research North-Rhine-Westphalia is formed by four working groups of the universities in Bonn, Düsseldorf, Essen and Münster. The main aim is to bild up a permanent structure for therapeutic as well as clinical - experimental addiction research and an improved transfer of scientific results from the university to the primary...
Transverse sections of the skull of the Permian therocephalian Glanosuchus sp. were studied with regard to the structures of the middle ear region. It is generally accepted that most of the skeletal elements of the mammalian middle ear are derived from the postdentary bones of the lower jaw. During synapsid evolution there is a gradual transition f...
Old World monkeys (Cercopithecoidea) are the most successful and diverse group of living non-human primates in terms of the number of species, behavioural repertoires and ecology. They have much to teach us about the processes of evolution and the principles of ecology, and are among our closest living relatives. This volume presents a broad, techn...
Some methodological questions of comparative anatomy and phylogenetic systematics are reconsidered using information from the early evolutionary differentiation of mammals. It is argued that any comparative approach necessarily implies systematic premises. Reconstruction of the 'groundplans' of inferred last common ancestors is a rewarding methodic...
The nasal floor structures in catarrhine primates have been studied on the basis of histological serial sections of older fetuses of Presbytis, Hylobates, Gorilla, Pan, Pongo and Homo. For outgroup comparisons, sections of the strepsirhine Daubentonia and the platyrrhine Callimico are presented; in these taxa the nasal floor cartilages are intimate...
Both ontogenetically and phylogenetically the facial skull of primates consists of two components: the endocranial nasal capsule, and the exocranial membrane bones. The cartilaginous nasal capsule of the fetal period constitutes the framework for the nasal cavity, and it also functions as an expansive basis for the developing facial skull. In adult...
Skull structures are properly understood only if their ontogenetic development is considered. It has been argued by a number of authors that the reproductive biology of marsupials may be reminiscent of a primitive ovo-viviparous phase of therian evolution. Therefore, it seemed rewarding to test the hypothesis that the skull structures of neonatal d...
The differences in the ‘biological roles’ and in correlated structural adaptations of the hands of geladas and baboons are demonstrated. The hands of geladas show a suite of peculiarities which appear to be connected with their locomotor as well as with their ‘grass-plucking’ habits. In a second part, the long standing problem of nails and claws in...
Skull structures are properly understood only if their ontogenetic development is considered. It has been argued by a number of authors that the reproductive biology of marsupials may be reminiscent of a primitive ovo-viviparous phase of therian evolution. Therefore, it seemed rewarding to test the hypothesis that the skull structures of neonatal d...
The evolution of the mammalian middle ear in connection with the change of the mandibular articulation is one of the central topics of comparative anatomy and evolutionary biology of vertebrates. Both embryology and palacontology have contributed to the formulation of the theory of REICHERT and GAUPP. Fossil finds of advanced cynodonts and early ma...
In most marsupials, the angular process is inflected medially. By using an ontogenetic series of Monodelphis domestica, the development of this characteristic structure has been described. In contrast with the eutherian mammals, in marsupials there is retained a close connection between the dentale and the tympanicum and goniale; it is well known t...
It was Cuvier (1805) who complained about the pupils of Linné, who were more interested in sorting superficial characters of organisms for taxonomic purposes than in understanding them physiologically. There is no doubt that classification is an important step in the scientific process of defining an appropriate place within the natural system for...
The skull of the platyrrhine primate Saimiri sciureus is distinguished by a large interorbital fenestra. Juvenile skulls still show a bony interorbital septum with some small gaps. A morphogenetic study was undertaken to better understand the structures of the interorbital region, which represents a linkage between the base of the braincase and the...
We feel that our study presents clear evidence that the hominoid dentition has not remained on a primitive level of evolutionary differentiation. On the contrary, if interpreted in terms of functional morphology it may be rather called the most complicated and specialized morphotype within the primates.
The earliest stages of development and differentiation of deciduous and permanent teeth were studied in prenatal and perinatal tarsiers. Both deciduous and successional teeth develop at loci for I1, I2, C, P2-4. Relationships among the dental lamina, enamel organs, and successional lamina were used to determine tooth homologies. During the second h...
The structures of the rostral parts of the nose are not well known in primates. Most past information has been derived from studies of serial sections of various fetal stages, but unfortunately postnatal stages are normally skinned and cleaned to such a degree that all cartilage disappears. The only comprehensive studies on this topic were carried...
The anatomical study of several complete skeletons of the Eocene insectivoreMacrocranion tupaiodon from the “Grube Messel” (Western Germany) allows to reconstruct a number of more relevant biological adaptations of this
extinct mammal. Its size is to be compared with small squirrels or treeshrews; its limbs are significantly longer, however.Macrocr...
Based on a 10 months' visit to Southern and Eastern Africa, an attempt is made to contribute to the faunal correlation and the palaeecology of the Transvaal cave deposits; conclusions are mainly drawn from evidence of the fossil Cercopithecoids, but light is shed on the sympatric Australopithecines of Makapansgat, as well. It is suggested that Earl...
The skull of a subadult female of Simopithecus darti from the “Upper Phase I” of the Makapansgat Limeworks, South Africa, is described. It is the first complete skull of Simopithecus which is recorded from the lower Pleistocene “Australopithecine cave deposits” of southern Africa. The present skull shows an interesting mixture of primitive and adva...
