Abstract
The goal of this chapter is to summarize work published on virtual endocasts of extant and extinct rodents and provide a framework to answer outstanding questions. Virtual endocasts are known for members of Ischyromyidae, Sciuroidea and Caviomorpha. The study of these rodent endocasts has the potential to help us better understand the condition of the common ancestor of all Euarchontoglires. Early rodents exhibit a simple brain comparable to other early members of Euarchontoglires including fairly large olfactory bulbs, an exposed midbrain and a small neocortex. The study of rodent endocasts provides a snapshot into the potential for deeper understanding that comes from not only estimating endocranial volume but examining comparative quantitative data for different regions of the endocast. A relationship between locomotor behavior and endocranial shape and size appears to exist in rodents, with arboreality as a potential driver for encephalization, and for neocortical and petrosal lobule expansion, in early Sciuroidea; whereas fossoriality may have led to an opposite pattern, with a reduction in the relative size of these two portions of the brain.
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Acknowledgments
This work was funded by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: Individual Fellowship (H2020-MSCA-IF-2018-2020; No. 792611) to OCB; an NSERC Discovery Grant to MTS.
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Appendix
Appendix
Data used to make figures 16.4–16.6. Endocranial volume were converted to brain mass by multiplying the endocranial volume by 1.036 following Stephan et al. (1981). References for locomotor modes can be found in Bertrand et al. (2021)
Group | Species | Collection number | Body mass (g) | Endocranial volume (cm3) | Brain mass (g) | EQ (Pilleri, 1984) | Endocranial volume (mm3) | Brain surface (mm2) | Neocortex surface (mm2) | Olfactory bulb volume (mm3) | Petrosal lobule volume (mm3) | Neocortical surface area percentage (%) | Petrosal lobule volume percentage (%) | Olfactory bulb volume percentage (%) | Locomotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paramyinae | Paramys copei | AMNH 4756 | 1029.89 | 7.53 | 7.8 | 0.91 | 7526.65 | 3378.48 | 612.69 | 455.45 | 89.99 | 18.14 | 1.2 | 6.05 | Scansorial |
Paramyinae | Paramys delicatus | AMNH 12506 | 2913.82 | 12.57 | 13.02 | 0.78 | 12565.4 | 4864.86 | 836.31 | 595.51 | 129.3 | 17.19 | 1.03 | 4.74 | Scansorial |
Paramyinae | Pseudotomus horribilis | USNM 17159 | 7466.7 | 15.19 | 15.73 | 0.52 | 15188.2 | 5842.8 | 1095.61 | 808.92 | 173.8 | 18.75 | 1.14 | 5.33 | Fossorial |
Paramyinae | Pseudotomus oweni | USNM 17161 | 5396 | 12.06 | 12.5 | 0.50 | 12063 | 4744.38 | 1038.73 | 717.06 | 74.8 | 21.89 | 0.62 | 5.94 | Fossorial |
Paramyinae | Pseudotomus petersoni | AMNH 2018 | 6644.56 | 17.01 | 17.63 | 0.62 | 17014.9 | 5843.7 | 1337.58 | 704.34 | 65.8 | 22.89 | 0.39 | 4.14 | Fossorial |
Paramyinae | Pseudotomus hians | AMNH 5025 | 3153.5 | 13.68 | 14.17 | 0.81 | 13679.1 | 4878.63 | 1136.08 | 743.2 | 142.4 | 23.29 | 1.04 | 5.43 | Fossorial |
Reithroparamyinae | Reithroparamys delicatissimus | AMNH 12561 | 856.23 | 6.43 | 6.67 | 0.88 | 6433.98 | 3178.9 | 550.88 | 206.31 | 148.86 | 17.33 | 2.31 | 3.21 | Scansorial |
Reithroparamyinae | Rapamys atramontis | AMNH 128706; AMNH 128704 | 1307.61 | 6.56 | 6.79 | 0.68 | 6558.22 | 3321.41 | 763.65 | 225.34 | 115.56 | 22.99 | 1.76 | 3.44 | Scansorial |
Ischyromyinae | Ischyromys typus | ROMV 1007; AMNH 12252; AMNH F:AM 144638 | 1342.23 | 6.26 | 6.49 | 0.64 | 6263.18 | 2835.36 | 606.72 | 209.22 | 103.85 | 21.4 | 1.66 | 3.34 | Fossorial |
Cedromurinae | Cedromus wilsoni | USNM 256584 | 268.89 | 3.61 | 3.74 | 1.03 | 3609.87 | 2048.7 | 645.15 | 106.97 | 113.96 | 31.49 | 3.16 | 2.96 | Arboreal |
Sciurini | Protosciurus rachelae | YPM 14736; YPM 14737 | 349.62 | 5.1 | 5.29 | 1.24 | 5102.89 | 2245.8 | 701.39 | 211.55 | 158.93 | 31.23 | 3.11 | 4.15 | Arboreal |
Sciurini | Sciurus carolinensis | AMNH 258346 | 592.55 | 8.05 | 8.34 | 1.39 | 8052.59 | 2720.59 | 990.64 | 255.92 | 163.26 | 36.41 | 2.03 | 3.18 | Arboreal |
Sciurini | Sciurus granatensis | USNM 441999 | 336.99 | 6.32 | 6.55 | 1.57 | 6323.66 | 2340.36 | 841.62 | 169.88 | 131.63 | 35.96 | 2.08 | 2.69 | Arboreal |
Sciurini | Tamiasciurus hudsonicus | USNM 549146 | 256.61 | 5.15 | 5.33 | 1.52 | 5146.7 | 2003.97 | 751.24 | 128.89 | 120.02 | 37.49 | 2.33 | 2.5 | Arboreal |
Xerinae | Tamias minimus | USNM 298500 | 37.05 | 1.52 | 1.58 | 1.56 | 1521.59 | 890.54 | 325.31 | 51.19 | 34.8 | 36.53 | 2.29 | 3.36 | Scansorial |
Xerinae | Funisciurus pyrropus | USNM 294865 | 301.15 | 4.55 | 4.72 | 1.21 | 4554.13 | 1881.42 | 695.25 | 146.78 | 99.54 | 36.95 | 2.19 | 3.22 | Scansorial |
Xerinae | Heliosciurus rufobrachium | USNM 378091 | 354.98 | 6.08 | 6.3 | 1.46 | 6076.64 | 2271.66 | 850.16 | 149.15 | 113.61 | 37.42 | 1.87 | 2.45 | Arboreal |
Xerinae | Paraxerus cepapi | USNM 367956 | 138.13 | 3.05 | 3.16 | 1.34 | 3053.3 | 1445.98 | 533.37 | 79.88 | 44.66 | 36.89 | 1.46 | 2.62 | Scansorial |
Xerinae | Protoxerus stangeri | USNM 435027 | 767.23 | 9.75 | 10.1 | 1.42 | 9746.91 | 3138.06 | 1233.5 | 225.57 | 183.74 | 39.31 | 1.89 | 2.31 | Arboreal |
Xerinae | Xerus rutilus | AMNH 179092 | 353.9 | 6 | 6.22 | 1.44 | 6001.83 | 2249.69 | 866.66 | 196.97 | 111.95 | 38.52 | 1.87 | 3.28 | Terrestrial |
Xerinae | Marmota marmota | AMNH 146619 | 4546.97 | 15.2 | 15.74 | 0.71 | 15195.8 | 4622.4 | 1533.62 | 390.88 | 127.4 | 33.18 | 0.84 | 2.57 | Terrestrial |
Xerinae | Cynomys ludovicianus | AMNH 114522 | 938.7 | 7.22 | 7.48 | 0.93 | 7220.3 | 2666.16 | 928.61 | 182.73 | 70.97 | 34.83 | 0.98 | 2.53 | Terrestrial |
Xerinae | Urocitellus richardsonii | AMNH 15062 | 245.78 | 3.16 | 3.27 | 0.96 | 3157.99 | 1514.13 | 553.66 | 105.75 | 55.33 | 36.57 | 1.75 | 3.35 | Terrestrial |
Pteromyini | Aeromys tephromelas | USNM 481190 | 904.59 | 11.46 | 11.87 | 1.51 | 11461.5 | 3528.53 | 1276.75 | 326.77 | 166.1 | 36.18 | 1.45 | 2.85 | Glider |
Pteromyini | Glaucomys volans | AMNH 240290 | 63.97 | 2.01 | 2.08 | 1.45 | 2010.43 | 1040.25 | 383.61 | 70.08 | 33.73 | 36.88 | 1.68 | 3.49 | Glider |
Pteromyini | Petaurista petaurista | USNM 589079 | 1096.65 | 12.32 | 12.76 | 1.43 | 12317.7 | 3673.24 | 1331.61 | 201.76 | 199.9 | 36.25 | 1.62 | 1.64 | Glider |
Pteromyini | Hylopetes spadiceus | USNM 488639 | 84.22 | 2.12 | 2.2 | 1.28 | 2120.74 | 1078.4 | 410.01 | 69.95 | 17.93 | 38.02 | 0.85 | 3.3 | Glider |
Pteromyini | Petinomys setosus | USNM 488674 | 41.86 | 1.51 | 1.57 | 1.43 | 1512.53 | 836.52 | 305.69 | 46.96 | NA | 36.54 | NA | 3.1 | Glider |
Pteromyini | Pteromyscus pulverulentus | USNM 481178 | 195.44 | 3.62 | 3.75 | 1.27 | 3621.04 | 1627.4 | 565.88 | 101.74 | 49.5 | 34.77 | 1.37 | 2.81 | Glider |
Pteromyini | Pteromys volans | USNM 172622 | 106.37 | 2.33 | 2.41 | 1.21 | 2330.8 | 1205.34 | 427.98 | 40.79 | 37.53 | 35.51 | 1.61 | 1.75 | Glider |
Callosciurinae | Rhinosciurus laticaudatus | USNM 488511 | 507.38 | 4.38 | 4.54 | 0.84 | 4383.6 | 1851.63 | 650.59 | 170.11 | 97.36 | 35.14 | 2.22 | 3.88 | Terrestrial |
Callosciurinae | Callosciurus sp. | USNM 294865 | 437.35 | 7.01 | 7.26 | 1.47 | 7007.94 | 2479.31 | 974.42 | 229.77 | 123.91 | 39.3 | 1.77 | 3.28 | Arboreal |
Callosciurinae | Lariscus insignis | USNM 488570 | 324.71 | 4.88 | 5.05 | 1.24 | 4878.57 | 1993.8 | 691.54 | 230.63 | 113 | 34.68 | 2.32 | 4.73 | Terrestrial |
Callosciurinae | Dremomys rufigenis | USNM 488602 | 418.43 | 5.87 | 6.08 | 1.27 | 5866.09 | 2185.23 | 826.93 | 232.42 | 125.71 | 37.84 | 2.14 | 3.96 | Scansorial |
Ratufinae | Ratufa affinis | USNM 488104 | 1074.27 | 12.31 | 12.76 | 1.45 | 12313.7 | 3725.22 | 1407.87 | 201.44 | 234.9 | 37.79 | 1.91 | 1.64 | Arboreal |
Aplodontinae | Aplodontia rufa | AMNH 42389 | 1475.86 | 7.89 | 8.18 | 0.76 | 7894.92 | 2878.28 | 779.01 | 203.71 | 64.41 | 27.07 | 0.82 | 2.58 | Fossorial |
Mylagaulinae | Mesogaulus paniensis | AMNH F:AM 65511 | 266.48 | 3.47 | 3.59 | 1.00 | 3467.99 | 1632.28 | 437.51 | 113.99 | 46.27 | 26.8 | 1.33 | 3.29 | Fossorial |
Prosciurinae | Prosciurus relictus | USNM 437793 | 30.07 | 0.96 | 0.99 | 1.12 | 957.45 | 845.9 | 251.16 | 34 | 32.08 | 29.69 | 3.35 | 3.55 | Arboreal |
Prosciurinae | Prosciurus relictus | USNM 437793 | 30.07 | 0.96 | 0.99 | 1.12 | 957.45 | 845.9 | 251.16 | 34 | 32.08 | 29.69 | 3.35 | 3.55 | Arboreal |
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Bertrand, O.C., Silcox, M.T. (2023). Brain Evolution in Fossil Rodents: A Starting Point. In: Dozo, M.T., Paulina-Carabajal, A., Macrini, T.E., Walsh, S. (eds) Paleoneurology of Amniotes . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13983-3_16
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