The petrosal and bony labyrinth of extinct horses (Perissodactyla, Equidae) and their implications for perissodactyl evolution.

ABSTRACT: Perissodactyla, or odd-toed ungulates, are represented today by 16 species of rhinoceroses, tapirs, and horses. Perissodactyls were much more diverse in the past, having a rich fossil record spanning from the earliest Eocene (~56 Ma) to recent, including a myriad of extinct lineages. Despite over a century of study, the inter-relationships of some extinct perissodactyl families remain poorly resolved. New morphological characters are needed to help solve this issue. Recent studies suggest that the ear region, i.e., the petrosal and the bony labyrinth of the inner ear, is a valuable source of morphological characters for mammalian phylogenetic analyses. The petrosal is the bony structure protecting the inner ear, the organs of hearing and balance in mammals. However, perissodactyl pe

SUBMITTER: Goodchild OA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12782039 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature