PATTERNS OF POSTNATAL-DEVELOPMENT IN SKULLS OF LYNXES, GENUS LYNX (MAMMALIA, CARNIVORA)

Studies on ossification patterns and other ontogenetic events associat ed with postnatal cranial growth of wild felids are scarce. An analysi s of developmental processes undergone by several cranial structures ( presphenoidal and sphenooccipital synchondroses, temporal and sagittal crests, and deciduous and permanent teeth) during postnatal growth ha s been conducted on a sample of 336 specimens belonging to the four Re cent species of lynxes (Lynx pardinus, Lynx lynx, Lynx rufus, and Lynx canadensis). Age has been estimated based on tooth replacement, skull size, and by counting the annual lines of cementum growth. Comparison of the results obtained for each of the four species reveal (1) a sin gle pattern for both tooth replacement and ossification of the sphenoo ccipital synchondrosis, (2) two ossification patterns for the presphen oidal synchondrosis, (3) a common pattern for development of temporal ridges and sagittal crest showing different degrees of morphological e xpression, and (4) evidence suggesting the involvement of a heterochro nic process, neoteny, in the morphological differentiation of several populations and species of the genus Lynx. These data also support the hypothesis that processes involved in the replacement of carnassials are based on functional requirements. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.