<pre style="margin: 0em;">Hi List,</pre><br>
<tt>This article may be a little off-topic, but it was the only
bioacoustics-related article in the current issue:</tt><br>
<br>
<tt>Mason, Matthew J. 2004. The middle ear apparatus of the Tuco-Tuco Ctenomys
sociabilis (Rodentia, Ctenomyidae). Journal of Mammalogy
85(4):797-805.</tt><br>
<br>
<tt>Abstract: Despite much recent interest in the middle ear and hearing of
subterranean mammals, there is very little information in the literature
regarding the middle ear apparatus of tuco-tucos (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae).
In this study, the middle ear apparatus of Ctenomys sociabilis was
dissected and is described for the first time. The middle ear structures of
this species proved to be very similar to those of other caviomorph
rodents; for example, in the bullet-shaped malleus head and in the fusion
of the malleus and incus. The caviomorphs represent a rather conservative
group in this respect. The m. stapedius is not present in C.
sociabilis?loss of middle ear muscles is a common trend among fossorial
mammals, but this particular feature has been reported in many other
members of the superfamily Octodontoidea. Although the middle ear apparatus
of C. sociabilis includes features consistent with the fossorial paradigm,
some of which might be interpreted as low-frequency adaptations, it is not
obviously specialized relative to other caviomorphs in this respect.</tt><br>
<br>
<tt>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
Brian R. Mitchell<br>
Post-Doctoral Associate<br>
University of Vermont<br>
The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources<br>
81 Carrigan Drive<br>
Burlington, VT 05405-0088<br>
(802) 656-2496<br>
[EMAIL PROTECTED]<br>
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</tt><br>
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