M. masseter

WHIDDEN, HOWARD P., 2000, Comparative Myology of Moles and the Phylogeny of the Talpidae (Mammalia, Lipotyphla), American Museum Novitates 3294, pp. 1-53 : 6-7

M. masseter ( figs. 2 , 6 , and 7)

ORIGIN: A superficial layer from the maxillary root and the lateral surface of the an­

terior zygomatic arch, and a deep layer from the ventral surface of the posterior zygomatic arch.

INSERTION: The superficial portion on the lateral surface and posterior and ventral margins of the angular process, the deep portion in the masseteric fossa and along the ventral margin of the condylar process of the dentary.

REMARKS: This muscle has the same general form in the 11 study taxa. The superficial masseter of Uropsilus originates from a prominent tubercle at the maxillary root of the zygoma, as Hutchison (1968) suspected. Fiedler (1953) considered the deep layer to be a separate muscle, M. zygomaticomandibularis. Zlabek ( 1938) provided a detailed description of this muscle for Talpa and Galemys (his Myogale ), and Gaughran (1954) compared a number of published descriptions of the talpid masseter.

Figures

Fig. 2. Masticatory muscles of Parascalops.

Fig. 6. Ventral view of neck muscles of Parascalops; superficial muscles on bottom, deeper muscles on top.