Evolutionary Patterns of Ganglion Canal Wall in the Inner Ear of Bats
- Affinity Photo and Designer, Blender
- April Neander
In the paper “Evolution of inner ear neuroanatomy of bats and implications for echolocation,” the authors describe a surprising amount of plasticity in the cochlear ganglion canal wall which allowed more space for the auditory nerves. This variation appears in Yangochiropteran bats, but not Yinpterochiropteran bats, which retains the plesiomorphic characteristic of a more solid canal wall. This image is meant to illustrate the variation in that anatomy which is largely unfamiliar to the general public.