As everyone knows, beavers and pocket gophers are closely related
Today’s post
expands on an earlier post that linked beavers with manatees, both derived from the Plesiadapiformes.
Today the skull of the pocket gopher, Thomomys, is compared to the skull of the beaver, Castor (Fig 1). The similarity is a strong one and the link is a traditional one under the clade name Castorimorpha = beavers, pocket gophers and kangaroo rats (but not Moertherium + manatees, because that connection was made only this month).
Figure 1. Skulls of the beaver, Castor, and the naked mole rat, Thomomys, compare well. Not to scale.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/castor.thomomys.skull_.3views588.jpg?w=260″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/castor.thomomys.skull_.3views588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-90627″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/castor.thomomys.skull_.3views588.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. Skulls of the beaver, Castor, and the naked mole rat, Thomomys, compare well. Not to scale. ” width=”584″ height=”673″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/castor.thomomys.skull_.3views588.jpg?w=584&h=673 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/castor.thomomys.skull_.3views588.jpg?w=130&h=150 130w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/castor.thomomys.skull_.3views588.jpg?w=260&h=300 260w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/castor.thomomys.skull_.3views588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. Skulls of the beaver, Castor, and the naked mole rat, Thomomys, compare well. Not to scale.
Which brings us to
Heterocephalus, the naked mole rat (Fig 2), a native of Eastern Africa (Kenya), another burrowing gopher tested in the large reptile tree (LRT, 2328 taxa). If you haven’t noticed, that means we have burrowing gophers on both sides of the Atlantic.
So how far back in time do burrowing gophers go? Prior to the South American/African split that created the Atlantic Ocean? Seems so.
Figure 1. The naked mole rat, Heterocephalus is closer to hedgehogs than to rats.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/heterocephalus588invivo.jpg?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/heterocephalus588invivo.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-32227″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/heterocephalus588invivo.jpg” alt=”Figure 1. The naked mole rat, Heterocephalus is closer to hedgehogs than to rats.” width=”584″ height=”352″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/heterocephalus588invivo.jpg?w=584&h=352 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/heterocephalus588invivo.jpg?w=150&h=90 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/heterocephalus588invivo.jpg?w=300&h=181 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/heterocephalus588invivo.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. The naked mole rat, Heterocephalus is closer to hedgehogs than to rats.
The time-tree of caviomorph rodents
(Western Hemisphere taxa, not to be confused with castriomorph rodents) recovered by Upham and Patterson included Heterocephalus as an outgroup. Those authors figure caviomorphs extend back only the Middle Eocene, 44.9 mya using genomic data.
Seems not old enough.
Figure 2. Naked mole rat (Heterocephalus) skull in several view. The mandibles are disarticulated here, but the glenoid appears to be reduced to absent, providing great mobility to the jaws.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/naked_mole_rat_skull_heterocephalus_glaber588.jpg?w=257″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/naked_mole_rat_skull_heterocephalus_glaber588.jpg?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-32228″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/naked_mole_rat_skull_heterocephalus_glaber588.jpg” alt=”Figure 2. Naked mole rat (Heterocephalus) skull in several view. The mandibles are disarticulated here, but the glenoid appears to be reduced to absent, providing great mobility to the jaws.” width=”584″ height=”681″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/naked_mole_rat_skull_heterocephalus_glaber588.jpg?w=584&h=681 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/naked_mole_rat_skull_heterocephalus_glaber588.jpg?w=129&h=150 129w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/naked_mole_rat_skull_heterocephalus_glaber588.jpg?w=257&h=300 257w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/naked_mole_rat_skull_heterocephalus_glaber588.jpg 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 2. Naked mole rat (Heterocephalus) skull in several view. The mandibles are disarticulated here, but the glenoid appears to be reduced to absent, providing great mobility to the jaws.
In the LRT
beavers and manatees (castriomorphs) are the most primitive rodents. Next comes porcupines. Then squirrels + rats split from burrowing gophers + kangaroo rats and the largest rodents, including the caviomorphs. The aye-aye (Daubentonia) is an extant outgroup taxon, also an outgroup to the Multituberculata.
So that mixes things up a bit.
References
Upham NS and Patterson BD 2015. Evolution of the caviomorph rodents: a complete phylogeny and timetree of living genera. SAREM Series A – Mammalogical Research 1:63–
wiki/Caviomorpha
wiki/Castorimorpha
wiki/Hystricognathi
wiki/Rodent
wiki/Gopher – Geomyidae
wiki/Beaver
wiki/Naked_mole-rat
wiki/Horned_gopher
wiki/Smooth-toothed_pocket_gopher
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2024/12/25/as-everyone-knows-beavers-and-pocket-gophers-are-closely-related/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Online: | |
| Visits: | 1,666,041,077 |
| Stories: | 8,321,929 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
