. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology. 490 MEGISTOTHERIUM FROM No attempt is made to give an exhaustive account of every bone in the skull. The aim is rather to point to the salient features which characterize the animal and lead to a functional understanding. Premaxilla. Although the limits of the bone cannot be defined, the major function is to carry the single large pair of incisors. The premaxillae stand well proud of the canines; between the anteriorly placed premaxilla and the laterally placed canine behind, is a deep groove for the accommodation of the lower canine
. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Geology. 490 MEGISTOTHERIUM FROM No attempt is made to give an exhaustive account of every bone in the skull. The aim is rather to point to the salient features which characterize the animal and lead to a functional understanding. Premaxilla. Although the limits of the bone cannot be defined, the major function is to carry the single large pair of incisors. The premaxillae stand well proud of the canines; between the anteriorly placed premaxilla and the laterally placed canine behind, is a deep groove for the accommodation of the lower canine. Maxilla. The anterior margin of the maxilla is greatly expanded laterally to house the large upper canine; the canine alveolus and infra-orbital foramen are about the same size. The palate is V-shaped, extremely narrow at the level of Pi and very wide posteriorly opposite M^. The palatine fossae are close together between the canines and numerous nutrient foramina perforate the palate. A series of large deep and highly vascularised embrasure pits is developed on the palate between the protocones of the molars and premolars, reminiscent of the condition seen in the larger mesonychids. Nasal. The right nasal is broken but on the left side the bone appears to extend back as far as the postorbital process of the frontal. The anterior narial opening is wide and high. Lacrymal. Wanting on the right side, while on the left the area around the fora- men is poorly preserved. Jugal. On both sides the bone is well preserved, due in no small measure to its robust build; the bone carries a prominent infraorbital tubercle. Posteroventrally the ramus extends almost as far as the glenoid articulation of the squamosal. Palatine. The anterior suture between the maxilla and the palatine can be parti- ally traced; much of the very wide palate posterior to M^ is roofed by palatine bone; this narrows dramatically behind the last molar and extends posteriorly. cm. Fig. 3. Megisiotherium osteothlast
Size: 2479px × 1008px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorbritishmuseumnaturalhistory, bookcentury1900, bookcoll
