Plesiadapis cookei skull with brain endocast

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Plesiadapis cookei skull and brain

Skull and brain of Plesiadapis cookei (after Gingerich and Gunnell 2005 fig.3b)

Plesidadapis cookei ("near Adapis") was a late Paleocene Proprimate found in Wyoming, part of a large group of Plesiadipiforms found in North America and Europe. This skull (Cat. UM-87990 at the University of Michigan) was found in 1986 at Locality SC-117 at Clark's Fork Basin in Wyoming.
The skull, 9 cm, in length, is very similar to that of P. tricuspidens, found in Europe. Uniquely, however, this P. cookei skull included a partial brain endocast, illustrated in this figure.
The brain as a whole shows a small size, with relatively large olfactory bulbs, a long and smooth cerebrum, and extensive exposure of the midbrain with distinct impressions of caudal colliculi. Gingerich and Gunnell conclude from this brain evidence that Plesiadapis was more primitive than either a primate or a dermoptera (arboreal gliding mammals from southeast Asia).

References
Gingerich, P. and G. Gunnell 2005. Brain of Plesiadapis Cookei (Mammalia, Proprimates): Surface Morphology and Encephalization Compared to those of Primates and Dermoptera. University of Michigan, Contrib. from Museum of Paleontology, vol. 31, no. 8, pp.185-195.

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	Plesiadapis cookei skull and brain Skull and brain of Plesiadapis cookei (after Gingerich and Gunnell 2005 fig.3b)

	Plesidadapis cookei ("near Adapis") was a late Paleocene Proprimate found in Wyoming, part of a large group of Plesiadipiforms found in North America and Europe. This skull (Cat. UM-87990 at the University of Michigan) was found in 1986 at Locality SC-117 at Clark's Fork Basin in Wyoming. The skull, 9 cm, in length, is very similar to that of P. tricuspidens, found in Europe. Uniquely, however, this P. cookei skull included a partial brain endocast, illustrated in this figure. The brain as a whole shows a small size, with relatively large olfactory bulbs, a long and smooth cerebrum, and extensive exposure of the midbrain with distinct impressions of caudal colliculi. Gingerich and Gunnell conclude from this brain evidence that Plesiadapis was more primitive than either a primate or a dermoptera (arboreal gliding mammals from southeast Asia). References Gingerich, P. and G. Gunnell 2005. Brain of Plesiadapis Cookei (Mammalia, Proprimates): Surface Morphology and Encephalization Compared to those of Primates and Dermoptera. University of Michigan, Contrib. from Museum of Paleontology, vol. 31, no. 8, pp.185-195.
	Athena Review Image Archive™ Main index of Athena Review Copyright © 1996-2020 Rust Family Foundation (All Rights Reserved).

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Plesiadapis cookei skull and brain

Skull and brain of Plesiadapis cookei (after Gingerich and Gunnell 2005 fig.3b)

Plesidadapis cookei ("near Adapis") was a late Paleocene Proprimate found in Wyoming, part of a large group of Plesiadipiforms found in North America and Europe. This skull (Cat. UM-87990 at the University of Michigan) was found in 1986 at Locality SC-117 at Clark's Fork Basin in Wyoming.

The skull, 9 cm, in length, is very similar to that of P. tricuspidens, found in Europe. Uniquely, however, this P. cookei skull included a partial brain endocast, illustrated in this figure.

References

Gingerich, P. and G. Gunnell 2005. Brain of Plesiadapis Cookei (Mammalia, Proprimates): Surface Morphology and Encephalization Compared to those of Primates and Dermoptera. University of Michigan, Contrib. from Museum of Paleontology, vol. 31, no. 8, pp.185-195.

Athena Review Image Archive ^™