Systematic relationships of cervids have been controversial for decades. Despite new input
from molecular systematics, consensus could only be partially reached. The initial, gross …

This contribution presents a general account and summary of the research carried out over
the past decades on the Quaternary faunas of France. This country is located in the center of …

Antlers are the most conspicuous trait of cervids and have been used in the past to establish
a classification of their fossil and living representatives. Since the availability of molecular …

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages are recognized as important components of intra-and
interspecific biodiversity, and allow to reveal colonization routes and phylogeographic …

Extrinsic and intrinsic factors impact diversity. On deep-time scales, the extrinsic impact of
climate and geology are crucial, but poorly understood. Here, we use the inner ear …

For over a century, researchers have assumed that the plane of the lateral semicircular
canal of the inner ear lies parallel to the horizon when the head is at rest, and used this …

Insights into potential differences among the bony labyrinths of Plio-Pleistocene hominins
may inform their evolutionary histories and sensory ecologies. We use four recently …

The ear region has a strong potential for evolutionary studies. While the petrosal bone
suffers from ontogeny and allometry, the bony labyrinth provides crucial information for …

Phylogenetic relationships among extinct hominoids (apes and humans) are controversial
due to pervasive homoplasy and the incompleteness of the fossil record. The bony labyrinth …

Pleurodires are less diverse than cryptodires, together forming the two major lineages of
crown turtles. Their fossil record, however, is rich. A particularly large number of fossil …