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Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.The structures that arise from convergent evolution are called analogous structures. They are similar in function even if they are dissimilar in structure. Further, structures can be analogous while also...
The Fossil Record02:56

The Fossil Record

The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...

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Single Sensillum Recordings for Locust Palp Sensilla Basiconica
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Olfactory acuity in theropods: palaeobiological and evolutionary implications.

Darla K Zelenitsky1, François Therrien, Yoshitsugu Kobayashi

  • 1Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4. dkzeleni@ucalgary.ca

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|October 30, 2008
PubMed
Summary

This study quantitatively evaluated olfactory acuity in theropod dinosaurs using olfactory ratios. Tyrannosaurids and dromaeosaurids had high olfactory acuity, while ornithomimosaurs and oviraptorids had lower acuity, with implications for their ecology and diet.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Comparative Anatomy

Background:

  • Understanding extinct animal senses is crucial for reconstructing their behavior and ecology.
  • Olfactory acuity, inferred from olfactory bulb size, provides insights into sensory capabilities of extinct species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantitatively evaluate olfactory acuity in extinct theropod dinosaurs.
  • To infer behavioral traits and phylogenetic trends in olfaction within Theropoda.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of olfactory ratios (olfactory bulb diameter to cerebral hemisphere diameter).
  • Phylogenetically corrected regression of olfactory ratio against body mass.
  • Comparison of olfactory ratios across various theropod clades.

Main Results:

  • Tyrannosaurids and dromaeosaurids exhibited significantly larger olfactory bulbs relative to body mass, indicating high olfactory acuity.
  • Ornithomimosaurs and oviraptorids showed significantly smaller olfactory bulbs, suggesting reduced reliance on smell.
  • Ceratosaurians, allosauroids, basal tyrannosauroids, troodontids, and basal birds had olfactory ratios within expected ranges.

Conclusions:

  • High olfactory acuity in tyrannosaurids and dromaeosaurids suggests olfaction played a key role in their low-light activities, foraging, or navigation.
  • Lower olfactory acuity in ornithomimosaurs and oviraptorids may indicate an omnivorous diet and reduced olfactory dependence.
  • Olfactory acuity was maintained in the ancestry of birds, with troodontids, dromaeosaurids, and primitive birds retaining significant olfactory capabilities.