Inner ear of fossil Lipotyphla from Messel (Eocene, Germany): systematic and functional implications

The fossil Mammals found at the Messel Pit (Eocene, Germany) are world-famous for being mostly complete, preserving even some soft tissues. The bones however are usually crushed, preventing some analyses. The inner ear is an important organ in the mammalian body, since it is involved in hearing and balance of the animal. It is housed whithin a sturdy bone, the petrosal, that is better preserved than most other bones. In Messel, 3 species of Lipotyphla (Mammalia) have been described so far. The validity of the Macrocranion tenerum has been questioned several times and its reconstructed locomotion uncommon. The goal of this study is to compare the inner ear features in Macrocranion tenerum, M. tupaiodon and Pholidocercus hassiacus from the Messel Pit with that of other Lipotyphla. In turn, taxonomic and locomotor implications will be studied.