- Titre du projet
- SYNTHESYS FR-TAF-3483: Head posture in extant rhinos
- Descriptif du projet
- Today, we have five species of rhinoceroses, known for the horns on their nose. The first members of the family Rhinocerotidae appeared in the Eocene and differed not only in their body shape and size, and the presence of such horns. Early forms had large second incisors in the lower jaw. With larger horns these incisors are more and more reduced, and even lost in some species. Teeth and horns are used as weapons. The rhinos without horns held their skulls horizontal or in an upward posture, while forms with large horns have a downward posture of the head. In the extant forms the African rhinos have larger horns and no lower incisors, while the Asian rhinos have smaller horns and persisting lower second incisors, and therefore a different head posture. The question is, if the balance organ of the inner ear, the semicircular canals, especially the lateral canal, is showing the different head posture? This lateral canal is held horizontal in the habitual head posture.
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