Rodentia is the most diverse and species-rich group of mammals, inhabiting almost all regions and ecosystems on earth. One of the most specialised subgroups is the Eusciurida, composed of Sciuridae, Gliridae, and Aplodontia rufa , and characterised by arboreal, fossorial and gliding taxa. Locomotion type not only influences postcranial morphology, but it is also known to be reflected in the shape of the vestibular system of th...

Two newly discovered specimens of passerine birds—an isolated sternum and an associated skeleton—from the upper Middle Miocene (ca. 12 Ma) are the oldest representatives of Passeriformes from Austria. Although the condition of the specimens prevents their accurate identification, they provide further clues on the morphological diversity of the avifauna during this period and fill gaps in the paleobiogeography of Miocene passer...

Encapsulated within the temporal bone and comprising the smallest elements of the vertebrate skeleton, the ear is key to multiple senses: balance, posture control, gaze stabilization, and hearing. The transformation of the primary jaw joint into the mammalian ear ossicles is one of the most iconic transitions in vertebrate evolution, but the drivers of this complex evolutionary trajectory are not fully understood. We propose a...