Journal article
The cochlear nuclei in Colubrid and boid snakes: A qualitative and quantitative study
Journal of morphology (1931), v 178(3)
Dec 1983
PMID: 30064177
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The cochlear nuclear complex was investigated in snakes of the advanced family Colubridae and the primitive family Boidae. This study was undertaken in an attempt to correlate the elaboration of the cochlear nuclei with behavior and phylogeny and to elucidate the relative effects of these factors on the evolution of the cochlear nuclear complex. Fifty-five brains, of 14 colubrid species and three boid species, were examined to collect data on neuron diameter, neuron population, nuclear volume, and neuronal density of the cochlear nuclear complex and of its component nuclei (nucleus angularis and nucleus magnocellularis). Intraspecific and interspecific comparisons of the data were performed by nested analysis of variance. The species were grouped by cluster analysis and ranked on the basis of the morphometric parameters. Interspecific comparisons indicate that the elaboration of the cochlear nuclei is related, first, to prey preference and, second, to habitat preference. The most elaborate cochlear nuclei occur in species with a preference for vertebrate prey. Burrowing species that prey on vertebrates exhibit the highest degree of elaboration of the cochlear nuclei. In some burrowing species, the nucleus magnocellularis is differentiated into medial and lateral subdivisions. The primitive boid snakes show greater elaboration of the cochlear nuclei than do most of the advanced colubrid snakes. The elaboration of the cochlear nuclear complex in snakes seems to reflect the influence of both behavior and phylogeny. Further investigation of primitive snakes of varied behaviors is needed to establish more clearly the influence of phylogeny on the evolution of the cochlear nuclear complex.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- The cochlear nuclei in Colubrid and boid snakes: A qualitative and quantitative study
- Creators
- Anthony V Defina - Catholic Medical CenterMichael C Kennedy - Hahnemann University Hospital
- Publication Details
- Journal of morphology (1931), v 178(3)
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- [Retired Faculty]
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:A1983RW91600005
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-0021073282
- Other Identifier
- 991019184301504721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Anatomy & Morphology