Jaw musculature of Cyclarhis gujanensis (Aves: Vireonidae)

DM. Previatto, SR. Posso

Cyclarhis gujanensis is a little bird which feeds on high number of large preys, such frogs, lizards, snakes, bats and birds. As there are few studies on the cranial anatomy of this species, we aimed to describe the cranial myology to contribute to the anatomical knowledge of this species and to make some assumptions about functional anatomy. Thus, we described the muscles from the jaw apparatus (external and internal adductor muscles, the muscles of the pterygoid system and the depressor muscles of the mandible). The adductor system is the greatest and multipinulated, particularly in its origin in the caudal portion of the temporal fossa. The depressor jaw muscles systems are enlarged with many components in complexity. The most of jaw apparatus muscles are short, but the strength (biting or crushing forces) from short feeding apparatus fibers probably is increased by high number of components and pinnulation. These anatomical aspects of the muscles indicate a considerable force in the jaws, without which C. gujanensis probably could not cut their prey into smaller pieces. However, functional approaches to analysis of forces of the muscle fibers are needed to corroborate / refute the hypotheses mentioned above.