What is it about?
-The olfactory bulb endocast, a part of the braincase, reliably reflects mammalian olfaction. -This bony structure is frequently preserved in fossils, even very old ones. -Its relative volume correlated with the number of intact olfactory receptor genes, a key genomic indicator of olfactory function. -This allows researchers to estimate olfaction in extinct species, such as early whales, saber-toothed cats, the thylacine, and more.
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Photo by Luis Domenech on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Since genomic information cannot be recovered from very old fossils, anatomy is the only option. With this proxy, we now have a tool to reconstruct olfaction in extinct species and understand its evolution through deep time.
Perspectives
Now that we have validated this anatomical proxy as a reliable way to infer mammalian olfactory capabilities, we will also be able to test ecological patterns, such as how species living in aquatic, subterranean, or high-altitude habitats rely differently on the sense of smell. This will help us better understand how olfaction influences behaviours like social interactions, reproductive behaviour, finding food, and avoiding predators.
Quentin Martinez
Staatliches Museum fur Naturkunde Stuttgart
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The olfactory bulb endocast as a proxy for mammalian olfaction, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, December 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2510575122.
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