我国始新世基干啮齿类耳区形态学及功能形态学研究

Auditory region is the most complex part of the skull. It is widely believed that the anatomy of the auditory region carries the most important information for reconstructing phylogeny and inferring locomotor behaviors. In this research, high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scanning and 3-dimensional digital reconstruction technology will be used to study the morphology and functional morphology of the auditory regions of two kinds of basal rodents(Cocomys lingchaensis and Exmus mini) found in China Eocene formations. Based on the morphology and functional morphology researches, we will revise and improve the anatomical terms of the rodent auditory region, extract the new morphological characteristics used for phylogenetic analysis, supplement and perfect the characteristic matrix of rodents, tease out the evolutionary history and trend of the rodent auditory region, deduce the locomotor patterns and habitats of the basal rodents, and investigate the reasons of flourish of rodents through locomotor patterns of the basal groups.

耳区是头骨中结构最为复杂的区域，并且与动物的系统演化和运动行为有着密切的关系。本研究计划采用高分辨率计算机断层扫描技术和三维数字模型构建技术来对发现于我国始新世地层的两种基干啮齿类（岭茶钟健鼠和明镇外鼠）的耳区进行形态学和功能形态学研究。在此基础上修订和完善啮齿类耳区解剖学名词，提取新的可用于系统发育分析的耳区形态特征，补充和完善啮齿类特征矩阵，梳理啮齿类耳区的演化历程及趋势，复原早期基干啮齿类运动模式及所处环境类型，从基干类群运动模式适应性上来探讨啮齿类繁盛的原因。

耳区是头骨中结构最为复杂的区域，与系统演化和运动行为有着密切的关系。本研究采用高分辨率计算机断层扫描技术和三维数字模型构建技术对发现于我国的四种化石啮齿类的耳区进行形态学和功能形态学研究。在此基础上修订和完善了啮齿类耳区解剖学名词，提取了新的可用于系统发育分析的耳区形态特征，补充和完善啮齿类特征矩阵，梳理啮齿类耳区的演化历程及趋势，复原早期啮齿类运动模式及所处环境类型，从运动模式适应性上来探讨啮齿类繁盛的原因。