Adaptations to a semiaquatic lifestyle in the external ear of southern pinnipeds (Otariidae and Phocidae, Carnivora): Morphological evidences
- Loza, Cleopatra Mara
- Krmpotic, Cecilia Mariana
- Galliari, Fernando Carlos
- Andrés Laube, Pedro F.
- Negrete, Javier
- Scarano, Alejo Carlos
- Loureiro, Julio
- Carlini, Alfredo Armando
- Barbeito, Claudio Gustavo
DOIAbstract
Pinnipeds are semiaquatic carnivorans that spend most of their lives in water and use coastal terrestrial, or ice pack, environments to breed, molt and rest. Certain characteristics of the ear have been linked to ecological aspects. In our contribution we focus on the study of the macroscopic and microscopic morphology of the external ear (with the exception of the osseous outer ear canal) of six species of Southern pinnipeds. In order to recognize the different components of tissues, sections were stained following several routine protocols. In addition, double-staining and enzymatic clearing (Alcian blue-alizarin red) was performed to assess the arrangement of skeletal elements in the OEC. The basic structure of the pinna in the southern ...
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