A desert octodontid rodent, Tympanoctomys barrerae, uses modified hairs for stripping epidermal tissue from leaves of halophytic plants.
Desert rodents that consume halophytic plants must have adaptations for coping with the high salt content of the leaves. A kidney capable of excreting very concentrated urine is one method. Another is removal of the hypersaline epidermis by means of chisel-like incisors prior to ingestion of the leaves. Tympanoctomys barrerae has evolved a unique refinement of the latter adaptation. It possesses two bundles of stiffened hairs on either side of the palate just caudal to the incisors. The bundles vibrate against the lower incisors, removing the epidermis from the leaves. The efficiency of the operation is significantly greater than with the use of incisors alone. Such a device has not been described in any other mammal. The facial muscles associated with the lips, the cheek vibrissae, and the oral cavity are described in T. barrerae and the nonhalophilic octodontid Octomys mimax. M. buccinatorius pars intermaxillaris is the only muscle in direct contact with the bristle bundles. Other anatomical features found in T. barrerae that may be associated with this feeding device are: 1) a much enlarged and mobile lower labial pad operated by Mm. buccinatorius pars orbicularis oris, pars longitudinalis profunda, and mandibularis cranialis profunda; 2) two oral glands not described in other rodents; and 3) a shortened tongue. Although, taken as a whole, this epidermal stripping device is unique to T. barrerae, most of its features have evolved by modification of structures present in the facial region of more generalized rodents.
College of the Holy Cross, Department of Biology, Worcester, Massachusetts 01610, USA. sberman@holycross.edu
Susan L
SL
Berman
D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D000818:Animals; D003889:Desert Climate; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010159:Palate / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018515:Plant Leaves; D012377:Rodentia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D012469:Salivary Glands; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology