Computed tomographic (CT) examination of the craniomandibular morphology of Kryptobaatar dashzevegi (Mammalia, Multituberculata)

Kryptobaatar dashzevegi, a small mammal, (approximately 0.15 m long) is a member of the Djadochtatherididae family of multituberculates (Kielan-Jaworowska and Hurum, 1997) that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80 million years ago. The specimen, PSS-MAE 101, studied was collected from the Ukhaa Tolgod locality in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia by joint expeditions of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, the University of Louisville, and the American Museum of Natural History.; The specimen, PSS-MAE 101, which consists of a complete skull and mandible, was examined using spiral images generated by computed tomography (CT). Using this method, extremely small, delicate structures can be observed in situ, and morphological data can be stored digitally for future inspection without destroying the original specimen.; Using this technique, a detailed examination of premaxilla, nasal, lacrimal, maxilla, palatine, frontal, jugal, pterygoid, orbitosphenoid, basisphenoid, alisphenoid, basioccipital, supraoccipital, exoccipital, petrosal, squamosal, parietal, mandible, and dentition was performed. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...