Facial bones of the mongolian gerbil meriones unguiculatus syrian hamster mesocricetus auratus and mouse mus musculus
Irmer, S.; Wissdorf, H.
Zeitschrift fuer Versuchstierkunde 22(5-6): 282-295
1980
Accession: 005437622
The facial bones of the Mongolian gerbil, M. unguiculatus (Milne-Edwards 1867) were examined macroscopically and the results compared to those gained from the ossa faciei of the Syrian hamster (M. auratus Waterhouse) and those of the laboratory mouse (M. musculus L.). The ossa faciei of the 3 spp. are nearly similar. In the literature the nomenclature of the particular points of the bones shows some differences. The os lacrimale is situated differently in M. unguiculatus than in M. auratus. Unlike the other species the os frontale of M. unguiculatus is occasionally marked by a proc. [processus] frontalis dors. [dorsalis] and a proc. frontalis ventr. [ventralis]. The mandible of the Mongolian gerbil shows notable states. Remarkable is the long can. [canini] alveolaris dentis incisivi which extends dorsally into the ramus mandibulae. In contrast there is a tuberculum radicis dentis incisivi formed laterally on the ramus mandibulae. Another specialty of the mandible of M. unguiculatus is the occurrence of 2 forr. [foramina] mandibulae. Whereas the basihyoideum of M. auratus has a process called proc. lingualis the hyoid of the Mongolian gerbil shows an incision at that place.