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University Physiologist Tel: +44 (0)1223 333829, Fax: +44 (0)1223 333840, E-mail: mjm68@cam.ac.uk
Mason, M.J., Cornwall, H.L. & Smith, E.S. (2016) Ear structures of the naked mole-rat, Heterocephalus glaber, and its relatives (Rodentia: Bathyergidae). PLoS ONE 11(12): e0167079.
The ear structures of the naked mole-rat have been largely overlooked in the literature. In this paper, we describe the middle and inner ears of both neonatal and adult naked mole-rats, based on dissection and micro-CT scanning. We compare the ears of Heterocephalus to the ears of several other bathyergid species, namely Bathyergus suillus, Cryptomys hottentotus, Fukomys micklemi, Georychus capensis and Heliophobius argenteocinereus, representing one member of each of the currently-recognised bathyergid genera. All bathyergid ears show a range of typical "Ctenohystrica" characteristics, but the naked mole-rat ear differs in several respects to those of the other species. Some of these differences could be interpreted as degenerate features contributing to its poor hearing.
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