Transient role of the middle ear as a lower jaw support across mammals

• Published in: eLife Vol. 9
• Main Authors: Anthwal, Neal, Fenelon, Jane C, Johnston, Stephen D, Renfree, Marilyn B, Tucker, Abigail S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England eLife Sciences Publications Ltd 30-06-2020; eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Biological Evolution; Cartilage; Cartilage - physiology; Developmental Biology; Ear, Middle - physiology; Ears & hearing; Eutheria; evolution; Evolutionary Biology; Fossils; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Jaw; Jaw - physiology; jaw joint; Lizards; mammals; Mandible; Marsupialia; Marsupials; Mice; Middle ear; monotremes; Opossums; Reptiles & amphibians; Skull; Species Specificity; Versican; mouse; evolutionary biology; mammals; Marsupials; developmental biology; jaw joint; monotremes; evolution; middle ear
• ISSN: 2050-084X; 2050-084X
• DOI: 10.7554/elife.57860

Mammals articulate their jaws using a novel joint between the dentary and squamosal bones. In eutherian mammals, this joint forms in the embryo, supporting feeding and vocalisation from birth. In contrast, marsupials and monotremes exhibit extreme altriciality and are born before the bones of the novel mammalian jaw joint form. These mammals need to rely on other mechanisms to allow them to feed. Here, we show that this vital function is carried out by the earlier developing, cartilaginous incus of the middle ear, abutting the cranial base to form a cranio-mandibular articulation. The nature of this articulation varies between monotremes and marsupials, with juvenile monotremes retaining a double articulation, similar to that of the fossil mammaliaform
, while marsupials use a versican-rich matrix to stabilise the jaw against the cranial base. These findings provide novel insight into the evolution of mammals and the changing relationship between the jaw and ear.