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The Bony Stapes in the Upupidae and Phoeniculidae: Evidence for Common Ancestry |
 | | The Bony Stapes in the Upupidae and Phoeniculidae: Evidence for Common Ancestry |
 | | There is a long, laterally directed thin process, and a shorter, broad process, both of which connect to the tympanic membrane via extracolumellar ligaments, and no doubt function in a complex lever system. |
 | | The possession of this bizarre type of stapes in both the Upupidae and Phoeniculidae I interpret as a strong indication of monophyly of the 2 groups that points a fortJori to |
| elibrary.unm.edu /sora/Wilson/v087n03/p0416-p0417.html (600 words) |