6/9/12 7:07 PM

o
co
cl fhg
ip fm

ct bo
bt
pzs p flm
s fo bs s
as
os pt
f fsp fpt
j fmp pl fpl
l

m m
pzm zs
zn fi
cnl
pm pm
n

zs l ct
p ip
n
f
pm zp s
m
j cl
co
as foa
ph ms
bt ppo
pcr
pcn

cm pal
pan

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Rattus_macleari_skull_labeled.svg Page 1 of 2
1998 MUSSER ET AL.: ORYZOMYINE RODENTS 73

Fig. 27. Contrasts between modified and complete cephalic arterial patterns reflected by bony and
foraminal landmarks in the squamosal-alisphenoid region (left drawings) and the ventral surface of the
pterygoid plate and auditory bulla (right drawings). Oryzomys yunganus, O. megacephalus, and O.
laticeps (top; drawn from AMNH 291909, an O. megacephalus from Perú) exhibit a modified cephalic
arterial circulation: no squamosoalisphenoid groove (sag) etches the inner surfaces of the squamosal
(sq) and alisphenoid (al) bones, and no sphenofrontal foramen (sf) occurs in the alisphenoid-orbito-
sphenoid junction (supraorbital branch of stapedial artery absent); however, a large stapedial foramen
(stf) and prominent groove (iag) in the posterolateral corner of the pterygoid plate (pp) trace the passage
of the stapedial artery and its infraorbital extension, respectively; the latter enters the posterior opening
of the alisphenoid canal (palc) and abruptly reenters the braincase through the canal’s anterior opening
(aalc). This pattern is like that described and diagramed for Oligoryzomys by Carleton and Musser
(1989).
Oryzomys nitidus (bottom; based on AMNH 211736, Bolivia) and other species in the former O.
‘‘capito’’ complex have a complete cephalic arterial circulation (table 52) in which the stapedial artery
divides into an infraorbital branch and a supraorbital branch that courses in the squamosoalisphenoid
groove and enters the orbit through a sphenofrontal foramen. This pattern, likely primitive, is similar to
that described and diagramed for Microryzomys by Carleton and Musser (1989). Other abbreviations:
ab, auditory bulla (ectotympanic); cc, carotid canal; fo, foramen ovale; mbt, trough for masticatory-
buccinator branch of maxillary nerve.