Reappraisal of the envenoming capacity of Euchambersia mirabilis (Therapsida, Therocephalia) using μCT-scanning techniques

PLoS One. 2017 Feb 10;12(2):e0172047. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172047. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Euchambersia mirabilis is an iconic species of Permo-Triassic therapsid because of its unusually large external maxillary fossa linked through a sulcus to a ridged canine. This anatomy led to the commonly accepted conclusion that the large fossa accommodated a venom gland. However, this hypothesis remains untested so far. Here, we conducted a μCT scan assisted reappraisal of the envenoming capacity of Euchambersia, with a special focus on the anatomy of the maxillary fossa and canines. This study shows that the fossa, presumably for the venom-producing gland, is directly linked to the maxillary canal, which carries the trigeminal nerve (responsible for the sensitivity of the face). The peculiar anatomy of the maxillary canal suggests important reorganisation in the somatosensory system and that a ganglion could possibly have been present in the maxillary fossa instead of a venom gland. Nevertheless, the venom gland hypothesis is still preferred since we describe, for the first time, the complete crown morphology of the incisiform teeth of Euchambersia, which strongly suggests that the complete dentition was ridged. Therefore Euchambersia manifests evidence of all characteristics of venomous animals: a venom gland (in the maxillary fossa), a mechanism to deliver the venom (the maxillary canal and/or the sulcus located ventrally to the fossa); and an apparatus with which to inflict a wound for venom delivery (the ridged dentition).

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dentition
  • Exocrine Glands / anatomy & histology*
  • Exocrine Glands / diagnostic imaging
  • Fossils / anatomy & histology*
  • Fossils / diagnostic imaging
  • Maxilla / anatomy & histology*
  • Maxilla / diagnostic imaging
  • Reptiles
  • Venoms / metabolism*
  • X-Ray Microtomography

Substances

  • Venoms

Grants and funding

This research was conducted with financial support from PAST and its Scatterlings projects; the NRF African Origins Platform; and the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences (CoE in Palaeosciences). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.