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Cranial Osteology in Momotidae (Aves: Coraciiformes)

Postado em 18. jan, 2009 por Equipe BEAnimal em Dicas, Trabalhos Científicos

Pascotto & Donatelli 2003 (Artigo Completo para Download)

Márcia C. Pascotto1* and Reginaldo J. Donatelli2

JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY 258:32–48 (2003)

ABSTRACT Momotidae (motmots) is found throughout
Latin America between Mexico and northern Argentina.
Given the absence of detailed studies of cranial osteology
of Momotidae in the literature, this article presents a
comprehensive description of the variation of the cranial
osteology in all nine species of Momotidae and compares
the results with published studies of other families of
Coraciiformes and families in other orders. In addition,
the cranial structures described are related to ecological
and behavioral aspects of Momotidae. The cranial osteol-
ogy of Baryphthengus ruficapillus is described in detail
and compared with other species of Momotidae. The re-
sults indicate the presence in Momotidae of modified cra-
nial structures, among which the most conspicuous are
the frontal, lacrimal, squamosal, orbital, and laterosphe-
noid regions, as well as the palatine, upper jaw, pterygoid,
and mandible. J. Morphol. 258:32–48, 2003.
© 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.