Myogale dorsocuticularis

WHIDDEN, HOWARD P., 2000, Comparative Myology of Moles and the Phylogeny of the Talpidae (Mammalia, Lipotyphla), American Museum Novitates 3294, pp. 1-53 : 16

M. dorsocuticularis

ORIGIN: From fascia over the metapophysis of the third lumbar vertebra.

INSERTION: Into the skin over the back, medial to the forearm.

REMARKS: This muscle has the same general form in the 11 study taxa. It originates from over the third lumbar vertebra in Parascalops , Scalopus , Scapanus , and Talpa , from over the fourth through the sixth lumbar vertebrae in Condylura , Neurotrichus , Scaptonyx , and Urotrichus , from over the last lumbar vertebra and the iliac crest in Uropsilus , and from only the iliac crest in Desmana and Galemys .

M. sterno­cleido­mastoideus/occipitalis complex

This complex forms the cranioventral margin of the accessory field in mammals, and is frequently split into several parts (Howell, 1937). It varies considerably in talpids. In Condylura , Desmana , Galemys , and Uropsilus , it forms three muscular elements, whereas in Neurotrichus , Parascalops , Scalopus , Scapanus , Scaptonyx , Talpa , and Urotrichus , it forms four elements. I treat these parts as four separate muscles according to their origins and insertions, but I am not confident that all the elements discussed under each name are homologous. Gaughran (1954) considered Scalopus to have superficial and deep parts to M. sternomastoideus , rather than the separate Mm. sternomastoideus and sterno­occipitalis that I recognize here. My account of this muscle complex in Desmana conflicts with that of Dobson (1882–1890). I was not able to dissect this muscle complex in Galemys .