Supplement to the catalogue of seals and whales in the British MuseumGray, John Edward
Science
Supplement to the catalogue of seals and whales in the British Museum
Gray, John Edward
Seals (Animals); Whales
The two adult skulls are very like the adult skull of _E. nigrescens_,
1013_d_, in the British Museum; but the opening of the internal nostrils
is narrower, and their front edge in one is not nearly so angular, and
in the other it is rather more arched than in either of the other two
skulls, showing that the size of the posterior nasal aperture and the
form of its front edge vary in different specimens of this species.
The comparison of the young skull with the more adult one shows that the
grinders change their position considerably as regards the front edge of
the hinder nasal opening. In the young skull of _Euotaria nigrescens_
the hinder end of the tooth-line is very near (not a quarter of an inch
from) a line level with the front edge of the internal nasal opening,
and the hinder part of the palate in front of the aperture is nearly as
broad as the middle of the palate: in the adult skull the hinder end of
the tooth-line is a full inch from the front edge of the internal nasal
opening, the hinder part of the palate is contracted toward the internal
nostril, and the internal nasal opening is lengthened and narrowed; but
the real position of the teeth, as compared with the front part of the
zygomatic arch, is little altered, though the form of the palate gives
them the appearance of being more changed than they really are.
These skulls are interesting as showing that _Euotaria nigrescens_, like
_Otaria leonina_ and _Morunga elephantina_, is, or was, common to the
Falkland Islands and the west coast of South America.
The chief character by which the adult skull of _Euotaria nigrescens_
can be distinguished from the adult skull of _Arctocephalus antarcticus_
is, that the hinder or fifth upper grinder and the penultimate or fourth
are placed rather in front of the hinder edge of the front part of the
zygomatic arch; but the position of the teeth is most distinctive in the
skull of the young animal, and loses much of its importance in comparing
old skulls together, unless the skulls and teeth are very accurately
compared; and even then the distinction is more imaginary than real.
I cannot understand Capt. Abbott’s account of this species. He says
that “the full-grown Seal is about the size of the common English Seal.
The largest skin I have ever seen I do not think measured more than 4
feet in length, perhaps hardly so much. The hair differs in colour,
being sometimes grey, and at other times of a brownish tint; that of
the young is of a darker brown colour.” All this agrees better with
the true _O. falklandica_; but yet he says the skin of his half-grown
specimen is now in the British Museum, and that skin is undoubtedly
_Euotaria nigrescens_. Has Mr. Abbott confounded the two species in his
mind? Or did he forget the animal? for he informed me that there were no
Sea-elephants now living on the island. (P. Z. S. 1868, p. 190.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account