The marginoturbinal was formed at the rostral-most dorsal side (dorsal to the naris) of the tectum nasi anterius from the early stage to adult in all eulipotyphlans (Figs 4A–G, 5A–J). The atrioturbinal was positioned on the caudal side of the marginoturbinal. The atrioturbinal was found at the ventral side of the nasal capsule from the early stage in all eulipotyphlans and almost no cartilaginous structure was formed within this turbinal in all eulipotyphlans. The maxilloturbinal was continuous with the caudal side of the atrioturbinal.

Figure 4. 

Coronal section and sagittal 3D views of µCT images of Mogera wogura and Urotrichus talpoides. A–G Show approximate location of section through the nasal capsule or nasal cavity. (A-1–6) Early stage fetus, (B-1–6) mid stage fetus, (C-1–6) late stage fetus, and (D-1–6) adult of M. wogura. (E-1–6) early stage fetus, (F-1–6) mid stage fetus, and (G-1–6) adult of U. talpoides. Scale bars: 1 mm. Abbreviations: ept = epiturbinal; et I (pa) = ethmoturbinal I pars anterior; et I (pp) = ethmoturbinal I pars posterior; et II–III = ethmoturbinal II–III; ft 1, 2= frontoturbinal 1, 2; it = interturbinal; lh = lamina horizontalis; lsc = lamina semicircularis; mt = marginoturbinal; mxt = maxilloturbinal; nt = nasoturbinal.

Figure 5. 

Coronal section and sagittal 3D views of µCT images of Suncus murinus, Crocidura lasiura, C. dsinezumi, and Sorex hosonoi. A–J show approximate location of section through the nasal capsule or nasal cavity. (A-1–6) Early stage fetus, (B-1–6) mid stage fetus, (C-1–6) late stage fetus, and (D-1–6) adult of S. murinus. (E-1–6) Early stage fetus of C. lasiura. (F-1–6) Mid stage fetus, (G-1–6) late stage fetus, and (H-1–6) adult of C. dsinezumi. (I-1–6) Early stage fetus, and (J-1–6) adult of S. hosonoi. Scale bars: 1 mm. Abbreviations: et I (pa) = ethmoturbinal I pars anterior; et I (pp) = ethmoturbinal I pars posterior; et II–III = ethmoturbinal II–III; ft 1, 2= frontoturbinal 1, 2; it = interturbinal; lh = lamina horizontalis; lsc = lamina semicircularis; mt = marginoturbinal; mxt = maxilloturbinal; nt = nasoturbinal.

The marginoturbinal was also formed at the rostral-most dorsal side (dorsal to the naris) of the tectum nasi anterius from late stage of Sus scrofa, Felis catus, and from early to adult in R. leschenaultii (Fig. 6A–H). The atrioturbinal had few cartilaginous parts. The maxilloturbinal continued from the rostral side of the atrioturbinal.

Figure 6. 

Coronal section and sagittal 3D views of µCT images of Sus scrofa, Felis catus, and Rousettus leschenaultii. A–H Show approximate location of section through the nasal capsule or nasal cavity. (A-1–6) Mid stage fetus and (B-1–6) late stage fetus of Sus scrofa. (C-1–6) Mid stage fetus and (D-1–6) late stage fetus of Felis catus. (E-1–6) Early stage fetus, (F-1–6) mid stage fetus, (G-1–6) late stage fetus, and (H-1–6) adult of Rousettus leschenaultii. Scale bars: 1 mm. Abbreviations: ept = epiturbinal; et I (pa) = ethmoturbinal I pars anterior; et I (pp) = ethmoturbinal I pars posterior; et II–III = ethmoturbinal II–III; ept = epiturbinal; ft 1–3= frontoturbinal 1–3; it = interturbinal; lh = lamina horizontalis; lsc = lamina semicircularis; mt = marginoturbinal; mxt = maxilloturbinal; nt = nasoturbinal.

We could not capture the clear image of the rostral-most turbinals of the early stage, such as the marginoturbinal and the atrioturbinal in all species with our CT imaging using the iodine-based solution. The thin cartilaginous structure made it difficult for us to distinguish the turbinal structure from other surrounding tissues. Especially the boundaries of turbinals were hard to observe in all species, such as between the marginoturbinal and the atrioturbinal and the atrioturbinal and the maxilloturbinal.

The maxilloturbinal of the talpids was already on the ventral side of the nasal capsule at the early stage (Fig. 4A, A–2, A-3, E, E-2, E-3). In the mid stage, the maxilloturbinal was not yet scrolled in both species (Fig. 4A, A–2, A-3, B, B-2, B-3, E, E-2, E-3, F, F-2, F-3). In the late stage of M. wogura, a slight depression was observed at the medial side of the caudal part of the maxilloturbinal (Fig. 4C, C–2, C-3). In the adult, the ossified plate was formed inside the maxilloturbinal in both species. All cartilage structures were ossified. The dorsal and ventral secondary lamellae of the maxilloturbinal are scrolled, and these scrolls became more prominent at the caudal ends (Fig. 4D–2, D-3, G-2, G-3).

The structure varied among soricids. S. murinus, C. lasiura, and S. hosonoi all formed the maxilloturbinal at the ventral side of the nasal capsule in the early stage (Fig. 5A, A–2, A-3, E, E-2, E-3, I, I-2, I-3). From the mid stage to the late stage of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi, the tip of the maxilloturbinal, which was dorsally scrolled, was not bifurcated, but only bulged (Fig. 5B, B–2, B-3, C, C-2, C-3, F, F-2, F-3, G, G-2, G-3). In the adult S. murinus, the dorsal and the ventral secondary lamellae were strongly scrolled and the dorsal secondary lamella produced an additional short branch (Fig. 5D, D–2). The maxilloturbinal of the adult C. dsinezumi bore two secondary lamellae (an unscrolled and almost straight dorsal lamella and a weakly-scrolled ventral lamella) (Fig. 5H, H–2). In the adult of S. hosonoi, the maxilloturbinal bore the dorsal and ventral secondary lamellae, but both lamellae were not scrolled (Fig. 5J, J–2).

The maxilloturbinal developed at the ventral side of the nasal capsule in all outgroup species. The maxilloturbinal formed the dorsal and ventral secondary lamellae in the mid stage in S. scrofa. In the late stage of S. scrofa, both secondary lamellae scrolled dorsally (Fig. 6A, A–2, B, B-2). In F. catus, the maxilloturbinal formed secondary lamellae, one dorsally and another ventrally, from the mid stage. In the late stage of F. catus, the scrolling of the ventral lamella became more prominent than the dorsal branch (Fig. 6C, C–2, D, D-2). In R. leschenaultii, a depression at the medial end of maxilloturbinal was observed. From the mid stage of R. leschenaultii, the maxilloturbinal formed the dorsal and ventral secondary lamellae. In the adult of R. leschenaultii, the two lamellae bore tertiary projections. The maxilloturbinal formed four lamellae in total (Fig. 6F, F–2, G, G-2, H, H-2).

All the species observed in this study showed consistent characters. In the early stage of M. wogura and U. talpoides, a part of the nasoturbinal was protruding from the dorsal side to the ventral side near the nostrils (Fig. 4A, A–2, B, B-2, E, E-2, F, F-2). In the mid stage and the late stage of M. wogura and the mid stage of U. talpoides, the rostral nasoturbinal, which contained no cartilage inside, extended to the rostral direction (Fig. 4B–1, C-1, F-1). From the dorsal side of the tectum nasi anterius, the caudal nasoturbinal containing cartilage protruded ventrally and extended to the rostro-caudal direction (Fig. 4B, B–2, C, C-2, E, E-2, F, F-2). In the adults of M. wogura and U. talpoides, the nasoturbinal protruded caudally in the cavity of the outer nasal cartilages and extended in the rostro-caudal direction (Fig. 4D, D–1, G, G-1). We could not conclude whether the nasoturbinal in this part formed the cartilage inside the turbinal with our CT images after iodine staining. In the center of the bony nasal cavity, which was composed of the maxilla and nasal, and palatine bone, the nasoturbinal had a thin ossified plate inside.

In the early stage of S. murinus and C. lasiura, the protuberance was formed from the rostral side near the nostrils (Fig. 5A, A–1, E, E-1). However, it was difficult to judge from the CT image whether there was cartilage in this process. No protrusion of nasoturbinal was observed in the early stage of S. hosonoi (Fig. 5I). In the mid stage and the last late stage of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi, the rostral side of the nasoturbinal was only a process which the cartilage could not be observed inside. On their caudal side of the nasoturbinal, the cartilage was formed inside, protruding in the ventral direction and extending in the rostrocaudal direction (Fig. 5B, B–1, B-2, C, C-1, C-2, F, F-1, F-2, G, G-1, G-2). The nasoturbinal of the adult of soricids was roughly divided into two parts. One part of the nasoturbinal protruded dorsoventrally in the cavity of the outer nasal cartilages (Fig. 5D–1, H-1, J-1). The other part of the nasoturbinal was in the bony nasal cavity and protruded dorsoventrally. A thin ossified plate was formed inside this part of the nasoturbinal (Fig. 5D–2, H-2, J-2).

The nasoturbinal was rostrocaudally short and protruded from the inner wall of the rostral tectum nasi anterius in the mid stage of S. scrofa (Fig. 6A, A–1). The nasoturbinal of S. scrofa did not elongate rostrocaudally in the late stage (Fig. 6B, B–1). The nasoturbinal protruded from inner wall of the rostral tectum nasi anterius and its caudal side joined the rostral side of the lamina semicircularis in the mid stage of F. catus (Fig. 6C, C–2). The nasoturbinal was not observed from the early to late stages in R. leschenaultii (Fig. 6E–G). Nonetheless, a protrusion, presumably a nasoturbinal, was observed at the inner wall of the snout (Fig. 6H, H–1). This protrusion was not cartilaginous.

In the early stage of M. wogura and U. talpoides, the lamina semicircularis elongated in the dorsoventral direction and protruded medially (Fig. 4A, A–3, E, E-3). From the early to late stage of M. wogura and the early and the mid stage of U. talpoides, the rostral side of the nasal capsule bridged the dorsal and ventral side. Then it expanded in the caudal direction to cover a part of the rostral side of the frontoturbinal and lamina horizontalis (Fig. 4A, A–3, B, B-3, E, E-3, F, F-3). In the adult M. wogura and U. talpoides, the rostral part of the nasal cavity had an ossified structure inside the lamina that bridged the dorsal and lateral sides of the nasal cavity. On the caudal side of the nasal cavity, the lamina semicircularis was thinly ossified to surround the surface of this lamina. Further on the dorsal side, ossified lamellae emerged from the dorsal part of the lamina semicircularis and were single-scrolled outward (Fig. 4D, D–4, G, G-4).

In the early stage of S. murinus, C. lasiura, and S. hosonoi, the lamina semicircularis formed a dorsoventral expanding structure on the dorsal caudal side of the nasal capsule (Fig. 5A, E, I). From the mid stage to the late stage of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi, the lamina semicircularis bridged the dorsal and ventral sides in the rostral nasal capsule (Fig. 5B–3, C-3, F-3, G-3). In the caudal nasal capsule, the lamina semicircularis extended to the caud-medial side, spreading dorsoventrally over the rostral side of lamina horizontalis and the two frontoturbinals (Fig. 5B–3, C-3, F-3, G-3). In the mid stage of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi, an outwardly protruding process was formed on the dorsal side of the lamina semicircularis (Fig. 5B–4, F-4). This process was bent dorsally in the late stage of S. murinus (Fig. 5C–4). In the adults of S. murinus, C. dsinezumi, and S. hosonoi, the ossified part of the lamina semicircularis bridged the dorsal and ventral sides on the rostral side of the nasal cavity (Fig. 5D–3, H-3, J-3). In the nasal cavity of adult soricids, the lamina semicircularis protruded in the dorsoventral direction. Furthermore, at the caudal side of the nasal cavity, the lamina semicircularis was thinly ossified and surrounded the surface (Fig. 5D, D–4, H, H-4, J, J-4). In the adults of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi, the lamina protruded outwards and scrolled to the dorsal side (Fig. 5D–4, H-4). In the adult of S. hosonoi, a laterally protruding process of the lamina semicircularis was observed on the dorsal side of the caudal nasal cavity (Fig. 5J–4).

In the mid stage of S. scrofa, the lamina semicircularis protruded from the inner wall of the dorsal side of nasal capsule (Fig. 6A, A–3). In the late stage of S. scrofa, the rostral side of the lamina semicircularis bridged the dorsal and the lateral side of the nasal capsule, and the caudal side of the lamina semicircularis extended medially on the dorsal side of the nasal capsule (Fig. 6B, B–3). In the-mid stage of F. catus, the rostral side of the lamina semicircularis bridged the dorsal and the lateral side of the nasal capsule (Fig. 6C, C–3, D, D-3). In the early stage of R. leschenaultii, the lamina semicircularis protruded on the dorsal side of the nasal capsule (Fig. 6 E, E–3). From the mid- to the late stages of R. leschenaultii, the lamina semicircularis projected laterally and transversally (Fig. 6F, F–3, G, G-3). In the adult, the lateral tip was slightly scrolled dorsally (Fig. 6H, H–3).

The lamina horizontalis of M. wogura and U. talpoides protruded from the inner lateral wall of the nasal capsule in the early stage, joining the ventral side of ethmoturbinal I pars anterior (Fig. 4A, E). Within M. wogura from mid to adult, and U. talpoides of mid and adult, the lamina horizontalis consistently extended from the inner wall of the nasal capsule in the direction of latero-medial, rostro-caudal and caudo-rostral. In the mid stage of M. wogura, the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis was joined only to the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior (Fig. 4B, B–4). In the mid stage U. talpoides, the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis fused with the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior, and the interturbinal (Fig. 4F, F–4). In the late stage of M. wogura, the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis was fused with the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior and the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior (Fig. 4C). In the adult of both species, two frontoturbinals and ethmoturbinal I pars anterior and ethmoturbinal I pars posterior, and interturbinal, ethmoturbinal II were combined from the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis (Fig. 4D, G).

A similar tendency was observed for soricids as for talpids. In the early stage of S. murinus and C. lasiura, the lamina horizontalis was already fused with the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I and II and protruded from the inner lateral wall of the nasal capsule to the cavity (Fig. 5A, A–4, E, E-4). From the mid stage to the adult of S. murinus, the lamina horizontalis fused with the ventral sides of the two frontoturbinals, the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior and the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior, and interturbinal and expanded inwards to enclose them (Fig. 5B–D). In the mid stage of C. dsinezumi, the lamina horizontalis was associated with the ventral sides of the two frontoturbinals, the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior, and the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior (Fig. 5F). From the late stage of C. dsinezumi, the lamina horizontalis additionally expanded inwards to wrap around them (Fig. 5G). In the adult of S. murinus, C. dsinezumi and S. hosonoi, the lamina horizontalis expanded inwards, fusing with the ventral sides of the two frontoturbinals, the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior, ethmoturbinal I pars posterior, and the interturbinal (Fig. 5D, H, J).

In the mid stage of S. scrofa, the lamina horizontalis protruded transversally from the inner lateral wall of the nasal capsule, joining with the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior (Fig. 6A, A–4). In the late stage, it joined the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior, ethmoturbinal II, three frontoturbinals, and the interturbinal (Fig. 6B, B–4). From the mid- to late stage of F. catus, the lamina horizontalis protruded transversally from the inner lateral wall, joining the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal pars anterior, ethmoturbinal pars posterior, ethmoturbinal II and three frontoturbinals and the interturbinal (Fig. 6C, C–4, D, D-4). In the early stage of R. leschenaultii, the lamina horizontalis protruded from the inner lateral wall, joining the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior (Fig. 6E, E–4). From the mid stage to the adult, the lamina horizontalis projected mediolaterally from the inner lateral wall of the nasal capsule, joining the ethmoturbinal pars anterior, ethmoturbinal II, ethmoturbinal III and two frontoturbinals (Fig. 6F, F–4, G, G-4, H, H-4).

The frontoturbinals were not observed in the early stage of M. wogura and U. talpoides (Fig. 4A, E). In the mid stage of M. wogura, the frontoturbinal 1 protruded from the inner wall on the dorsal side of the nasal capsule (Fig. 4B). The late stage of M. wogura and the mid stage of U. talpoides had two frontoturbinals (the frontoturbinal 1 on the dorsal side and the frontoturbinal 2 on the ventral side) protruding from the dorsal inner wall of the nasal capsule without branching off (Fig. 4C, F). In the adults of M. wogura and U. talpoides, the two frontoturbinals were on the dorsal side of the nasal cavity. The rontoturbinal 1 diverged inwards and outwards, scrolling on both internal and external lamellae. The frontoturbinal 2 diverged dorsally and ventrally, forming scrolled lamellae (Fig. 4D, D–4, G, G-4).

No frontoturbinal protrusions were observed in the early stages of S. murinus, and S. hosonoi (Fig. 5A, A–4, I, I-4). From the mid stages of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi, two frontoturbinals (the frontoturbinal 1 on the dorsal side and the frontoturbinal 2 on the ventral side) protruded from the dorsal inner wall of the nasal capsule (Fig. 5B, B–4, F, F-4). The inner tip of each frontoturbinal was greatly swollen (Fig. 5B, B–4, C, C-4, F, F-4, G, G-4). In the adults of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi, both frontoturbinals scrolled inwards and outwards (Fig. 5D, D–4, H, H-4). In S. hosonoi, the frontoturbinal 1 formed the dorsal and ventral lamellae which scrolled dorsally and ventrally (Fig. 5J, J–4). The frontoturbinal 2 formed inward and outward lamellae; the outward lamella did not scroll, while the inward one scrolled (Fig. 5J, J–4).

In the mid stage of S. scrofa, the frontoturbinal 1 protruded slightly from the inner wall of the dorsal side of the nasal capsule (Fig. 6A). In the late stage, two additional frontoturbinals (the frontoturbinal 2 and the frontoturbinal 3) appeared in the dorsal side of the nasal (Fig. 6B, B–4). From the mid stage of F. catus, three frontoturbinals protruded from the inner wall of the dorsal side of the nasal capsule and fused with the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis already (Fig. 6C, C–4, D, D-4). From the mid stage to adult of R. leschenaultii, a frontoturbinal protruded from the inner wall of the dorsal side of the nasal capsule and fused dorsally to the lamina horizontalis (Fig. 6F, F–4, G, G-4, H, H-4). In adults, the frontoturbinal 1 branched off and scrolled (Fig. 6H, H–4).

The ethmoturbinal I pars anterior of talpids (M. wogura and U. talpoides) protruded in the latero-medial and caudo-rostral directions from the inner lateral wall of the nasal capsule, fusing with the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis at the early stage. (Fig. 4A, A–4, E, E-4). From the early stage to the adult of M. wogura and the early, mid and adult stages of U. talpoides, this turbinal was the largest of all ethmoturbinals (Fig. 4A–G). From the early stage of M. wogura and from the mid stage of U. talpoides, this turbinal had the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior branched from the ventral side (Fig. 4A, A–4, F, F-4). In addition, from the mid stage of both species, the rostral part of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior protruded towards the nostrils (Fig. 4B, F). In the adult, the rostral part of this turbinal formed a caudo-rostral elongated structure. (Fig. 4D, G).

Fusing with the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis, the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior of soricids, like the talpids, protruded from the inner lateral wall of the nasal capsule in latero-medial and caudo-rostral directions already at the early stage (Fig. 5A, A–4, E, E-4, I, I-4). From the early stage to the adult, the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior was always the largest among all ethmoturbinals in soricids. (Fig. 5A–J). From the mid stage to the adult stages of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi, the rostral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior elongated towards the naris (Fig. 5B–D, F–H). From the mid stage, the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi showed a gradual ventral curve (Fig. 5B, B–4, F, F-4). Furthermore, from this stage, another branch, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior, protruded from the ventral base of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior (Fig. 5B, B–4, F, F-4).

In the late stage of both species, the curve of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior which bent to the ventral side became stronger, and the innermost tip of this turbinal was swollen (Fig. 5C, C–4, G, G-4). In the adults of S. murinus, C. dsinezumi, and S. hosonoi, the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior formed two secondary lamellae (inside and outside), and the inner lamella bent at an acute angle to the ventral side. On the other hand, the outer lamella did not scroll or even bend.

From the mid stage of S. scrofa, the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior protruded from the inner lateral wall of the nasal capsule, fusing with the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis (Fig. 6A, A–4). In the mid stage of S. scrofa, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior diverged from the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior (Fig. 6B, B–4). From the mid stage of F. catus, the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior protruded from the inner lateral wall of the the nasal capsule, joining the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis. The ethmoturbinal I pars posterior branched from the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior already in the mid stage of F. catus (Fig. 6C, C–4). The inner end of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior was bifurcated at the late stage of F. catus (Fig. 6C, C–4, D, D-4). In R. leschenaultii, the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior protruded from the inner lateral wall of the nasal capsule, fusing with the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis at the early stage (Fig. 6E, E–4). From the mid stage of R. leschenaultii, the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior projected towards the rostral side and was located on the dorsal side of the maxilloturbinal (Fig. 6F–H). Furthermore, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior diverged from the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior (Fig. 6F–H). The ethmoturbinal I pars anterior was the largest turbinal among all ethmoturbinals in all stages in all species of the outgroup.

In M. wogura, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior projected from the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior from the early stage (Fig. 4A, A–4). In the early stage of U. talpoides, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior was not branched (Fig. 4E). In the mid- and late stages of M. wogura and the mid stage of U. talpoides, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior extended towards the septum nasi (Fig. 4B, B–4, C, C-4, F, F-4). In the adult of both species, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior scrolled to the dorsal side, and the rostral side of this turbinal joined the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis (Fig. 4D, D–4, G, G-4).

In the early stage of C. lasiura, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior was observed at the base of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior (Fig. 5E). In S. murinus, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior was observed from the mid stage (Fig. 5B, B–4). The medial tip of the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior in the mid and late stages of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi was swollen (Fig. 5B, B–4, C, C-4, F, F-4, G, G-4). In the adult of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior bore two secondary lamellae. The dorsal lamella scrolled strongly outwards, and the ventral lamella did not scroll. In the adult of S. hosonoi, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior did not branch off, but only formed a dorsally directed weak curve.

In S. scrofa, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior protruded from the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior in the late stage and the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior fused with the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis (Fig. 6A, A–4, B, B-4). In F. catus, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior protruded from the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior and fused with the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis from the mid stage (Fig. 6C, C–4, D, D-4). From the mid stage of R. leschenaultii, the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior protruded from the ventral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior and fused with the dorsal side of the lamina horizontalis (Fig. 6F, F–4, G, G-4, H, H-4).

In M. wogura and U. talpoides, the ethmoturbinal II already protruded from the inner lateral wall of the ventral side of the nasal capsule at the early stage (Fig. 4A, A–5, E, E-5). In the mid stages of M. wogura and U. talpoides, the ethmoturbinal II extended medio-dorsally from the ventral inner wall and joined the dorsal inner wall in the caudal nasal capsule (Fig. 4B, B–5, F, F-5). From the late to the adult stages in M. wogura and the mid to the adult stage in U. talpoides, the ethmoturbinal II extended towards the septum nasi and curved dorsally then joined the inner wall of the nasal caspule or the nasal cavity (Fig. 4C, C–5, D, D-5, F, F-5, G, G-5). The ethmoturbinal II did not scroll in both species (Fig. 4C, C–5, D, D-5, F, F-5, G, G-5). From the late stage to the adult of M. wogura and from the mid stage to the adult of U. talpoides, the epiturbinal protruded from the dorsal side of ethmoturbinal II (Fig. 4C, C–5, D, D-5, F, F-5, G, G-5). In the adult of both species, the epiturbinal at the ethmoturbinal II, formed the lateral and medial lamellae, and both lamellae scrolled ventrally (Fig. 4D, D–5, G, G-5).

From the late stage of M. wogura and from the mid stage of U. talpoides, the ethmoturbinal III protruded from the nasal wall (Fig. 4C, C–6, F, F-6). In the adult of both species, the ethmoturbinal III bore the secondary lamellae; the dorsal lamella scrolled ventrally, and the ventral lamella scrolled dorsally. In both species, the dorsal scroll of the ethmoturbinal III was more prominent than the ventral scroll (Fig. 4D, D–6, G, G-6). Moreover, the interturbinal protruded from the inner lateral wall of nasal capsule in the late stage of M. wogura and in the mid stage of U. talpoides (Fig. 4C, C–5, F, F-5). In the adult, the interturbinal protruded medially from the inner wall and turned, extending laterally. Furthermore, the tip scrolled ventrally (Fig. 4D, D–5, G, G-5).

The ethmoturbinal II protruded ventrally from the inner wall of the nasal capsule in all soricids already at the early stage (Fig. 5A, A–5, E, E-5, I, I-5). From the mid to late stages of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi, the ethmoturbinal II extended ventromedially and weakly curved dorsally at the ventral side of the nasal capsule (Fig. 5B, B–5, C, C-5, E, E-5, F, F-5). In the adults of S. murinus, C. dsinezumi and S. hosonoi, the ethmoturbinal II extended to the septum nasi and curved at an obtuse angle then joined the dorsal side of the nasal cavity (Fig. 5D, D–5, H, H-5, J, J-5). The ethmoturbinal II did not scroll and project any lamella as the epiturbinal of all sorcids species (Fig. 5D–4, D-5, H-4, H-5, J-4, J-5).

In S. murinus and Crocidura dsinezum, the ethmoturbinal III was a minor cartilaginous protrusion at the early stage (Fig. 5A, A–6, E, E-6). The ethmoturbinal III was not observed in the early stage of S. hosonoi (Fig. 5 I, I–6). From the mid to the late stages of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi and late stage of S. murinus, the ethmoturbinal III extended medially from the inner wall of the nasal capsule and joined dorsally to the dorsal side of the inner wall. The lateral and medial side of ethmoturbinal III was swollen (Fig. 5B, B–6, C, C-6, F, F-6, G, G-6). In the adults of S. murinus, C. dsinezumi, and S. hosonoi, the ethmoturbinal III formed the ventral and dorsal secondary lamellae, which are scrolled. The dorsal lamella scrolled ventrally at the rostral side of the ethmoturbinal III, and the ventral lamella scrolled dorsally at the caudal side of the ethmoturbinal III (Fig. 5D–5, D-6, H, H-6, J, J-6).

The interturbinal was not observed in all soricids species in the early stage (Fig. 5A, E, I). It protruded from the inner wall of the nasal capsule between the ethmoturbinal I and II in the mid stages of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi (Fig. 5B, B–5, F, F-5). In the adult of S. murinus, the interturbinal formed the medial and lateral secondary lamellae; the medial secondary lamella strongly scrolled ventrally, and the lateral secondary lamella did not scroll (Fig. 5D–5). The lateral branch disappeared completely at the caudal side of the nasal cavity (Fig. 5D–5). In the adult of C. dsinezumi, the interturbinal did not bear the secondary lamellae, but only scrolled medially (Fig. 5H–5). In the adult of S. hosonoi, the rostral side of the interturbinal protruded from the lateral side of the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior and the caudal side of the interturbinal protruded from the inner wall of the nasal cavity (Fig. 5J–4, J-5).

From the mid stage of S. scrofa, the ethmoturbinal II protruded from the inner lateral wall of the ventral side of the nasal capsule, and the ridge of the epiturbinal was located ventrally to the ethmoturbinal II (Fig. 6A, A–5). In the mid stage of F. catus, the ethmoturbinal II projected from the inner lateral wall of the ventral side of the nasal capsule. The ridge of the epiturbinal was located at the dorsal side of the ethmoturbinal II already in this stage (Fig. 6C, C–5). From the mid stage of R. leschenaultii, the ethmoturbinal II protruded from the inner lateral wall of the ventral side of the nasal capsule (Fig. 6F, F–5). While the epiturbinal was not observed in the fetal stages of R. leschenaultii, the epiturbinal was seen at the dorsal side of the ethmoturbinal II in the adult (Fig. 6H–4, H-5).

From the late stage, the ethmoturbinal III and the ethmoturbinal IV protruded dorsally from the inner wall of the ventral side of the nasal capsule in S. scrofa (Fig. 6B, B–6). In the mid stage of F. catus, the ethmoturbinal III protruded dorsally from the inner wall of the ventral side of the nasal capsule. In the late stage, the medial tip bulged medially (Fig. 6D, D–6). In the mid stage of R. leschenaultii, the ethmoturbinal III protruded from the inner wall of the ventral side of the nasal capsule, extending dorsally. In the adult, the ethmoturbinal III bore the dorsal and ventral secondary lamellae (Fig. 5F, F–6).

From the late stage of S. scrofa and from the mid stage of F. catus, the interturbinal protruded from the inner lateral wall of the nasal capsule between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and ethmoturbinal II (Fig. 6B, B–5, C, C-5). In R. leschenaultii, the interturbinal was not found in the fetal stage, but protruded from the nasal cavity between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II in the adult (Fig. 6E–H, H–5).

In talpines, other than M. wogura and U. talpoides, which are discussed here, there have been many reports on the turbinal of T. europaea using both adults and fetuses. The turbinals of adult specimens were described by Ganeshina et al. (1957), Ioana (1970), and Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel (1977). Among these studies, Ganeshina et al. (1957) and Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel (1977) showed some detailed coronal sections of the nasal cavity. The nasal cavity of T. europaea resembles that of M. wogura and U. talpoides observed in this study (Ganeshina et al. 1957; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977) (Fig. 4). Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel (1977) showed the ethmoturbinal I that split into two with a caudal section of T. europaea. In addition, T. europaea also showed the ethmoturbinal II which protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall and bends dorsally (see in their fig. 4e). Hence, like M. wogura and U. talpoides, T. europaea has the interturbinal that protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II and the epiturbinal that protrudes from the dorsal side of the ethmoturbinal II (Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977). Martinez et al. (2020) did not identify the turbinals in their study, but instead distinguished them solely on olfactory and respiratory functions. Their detailed CT images of the coronal section and histological sections of T. europaea which they presented show the interturbinal that protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II and the epiturbinal that protrudes dorsally from the ethmoturbinal II.

Parker (1885), Fischer (1901), Noordenbos (1905), and Fawcett (1918) described the fetal stages of T. europaea. Parker (1885) showed detailed coronal sections of two fetal stages (the size of the fetuses are 15.9 mm and 19.1 mm from the snout to the root of the tail; Parker used a unique method to measure specimens). From his caudal section of the nasal capsule, we were able to observe the structure which protrudes from the inner wall to the septum nasi and extends horizontally and the protrusion from the dorsal region of the structure. Moreover, the structure that extends horizontally in Parker’s figure resembles the structure and the position of the lamina horizontalis of the early to mid stages of M. wogura and U. talpoides (Fig. 4A–4, B-4, E-4, F-4). Therefore, we suggest that these structures are homologous. In addition, the caudal section of the nasal capsule showed the protruding turbinal structure that extends ventrodorsally. In the smaller fetus, Parker (1885) called this a rudimentary middle turbinal (plate 23, fig. 6) In the larger fetus, the cartilaginous structure thickened mediolaterally. The resemblance of the structure and the position indicates that this turbinal and the ethmoturbinal II of M. wogura and U. talpoides of the early and mid stages are homologous. Nonetheless, the interturbinal that protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II and the epiturbinal that protrudes dorsally from the ethmoturbinal II that Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel (1977) and Martinez et al. (2020) described in adult T. europaea were not observed in the coronal sections of the two fetuses presented by Parker (1885). Parker (1885) presented several fetuses, but did not show any figures with detailed turbinal structures other than the two which we discussed. Hence, the protrusion of the interturbinal and the epiturbinal at the ethmoturbinal II started after the stages that Parker (1885) illustrated. Thus, the description of the turbinals of talpids was chiefly carried out, based on T. europaea. No-one has ever described the nasal capsule and the turbinals of other fetal talpids.

To our knowledge, only studies on scalopine Condylura cristata and talpine D. moschata show detailed descriptions of turbinal structures, other than T. europaea (Allen 1882; Ganeshina et al. 1957; Martinez et al. 2020) for talpids. Allen (1882) included C. cristata as an outgroup species in the study on chiropterans, but did not show any detailed figures. He also stated that C. cristata has three ethmoturbinals and four other turbinals (frontoturbinal or interturbinal; Allen 1882). Martinez et al. showed the CT sections and the three-dimensional turbinal image of adult C. cristata (Martinez et al. 2020). Their caudal CT image showed the largest turbinal which split into two (Martinez et al. 2020). The structure seen in this image resembles what we observed in M. wogura and U. talpoides; hence, we can identify them as the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior and the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior. Moreover, the study illustrated the turbinal that protruded from the lateral wall of the nasal cavity and extended dorsally. This also resembles the structure in M. wogura and U. talpoides; hence, we identify it as the ethmoturbinal II. The interturbinal protruded from the inner wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II made a dorsal single scroll. In the section, the epiturbinal is slightly visible in dots on the dorsal side of the ethmoturbinal II. In his image, the epiturbinal is slightly visible on the dorsal side of ethmoturbinal II. Based on these factors, we can assume that the four turbinals, other than the ethmoturbinal within the ethmoturbinal recess which Allen (1882) identified, are most probably the dorsally positioned two frontoturbinals, interturbinal, and the epiturbinal at the dorsal region of the ethmoturbinal II. Furthermore, Ganeshina et al. (1957) and Martinez et al. (2020) observed the turbinal structure of talpine D. moschata. Martinez et al. (2020) showed the CT images of the rostral and the caudal side of the nasal cavity. The CT image that showed the turbinals of the ethmoturbinal recess of D. moschata in Martinez et al. (2020) exhibited the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior and the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior, and the ethmoturbinal II that protruded from the ventral side of the lateral nasal wall and extended dorsally. Their figure also presented the interturbinal that protruded from the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II and the epiturbinal that protruded from the dorsal side of the ethmoturbinal II. Hence, the turbinal structure of the ethmoturbinal recess of D. moschata is the same as that of the rest of the talpid species.

The maxilloturbinal of T. europaea (Ganeshina et al. 1957; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977; Martinez et al. 2020) and C. cristata (Martinez et al. 2020) resembles that of M. wogura and U. talpoides in terms of structure and size (forming the two secondary lamellae, one extending dorsally, while the other extending ventrally). A previous study showed that among other talpids, the relative surface area of the respiratory turbinals (nasoturbinal and maxilloturbinal) of the amphibious species (such as D. moschata and Galemys pyrenaicus) is larger than in the terrestrial species. An inverted pattern was found for the olfactory turbinals (ethmoturbinal, frontoturbinal, and interturbinal) (Martinez et al. 2020). The rostral section of D. moschata indicates that the maxilloturbinal structure is rather similar to the structure seen in other talpids species observed previously (form the two secondary lamellae and each scrolls).

Similar to the early and mid stages of M. wogura and U. talpoides in this study, the maxilloturbinal of the two fetal stages of T. europaea presented by Parker (1885) does not bear the secondary lamellae. Fischer (1901) who observed the chondrocranium of T. europaea also stated that the maxilloturbinal is undeveloped. It is most likely that the development of the secondary lamellae in the maxilloturbinal occurs in the fetal stage right before birth or the early neonatal period.

Soricids include subfamilies, such as crocidurines, myosoricines, and soricines (Willows-Munro and Matthee 2009). The studies of myosoricines include the description of the snout by Maier (2020) and the quantification of the turbinal surface area by Martinez et al. (2020). The turbinal structure is mainly described using crocidurines and soricines; crocidurines have been studied by many authors using various adult species, such as C. suaveolens (Ganeshina et al. 1957; Ioana 1970), S. murinus (Sharma 1958; Kuramoto 1980), C. russula (Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977; Schmidt and Nadolski 1979; Söllner and Kraft 1980) and C. leucodon (Ioana 1970; Söllner and Kraft 1980). The position and the structure of the turbinal described in the previous studies showed resemblance with our observation of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi (Fig. 5D, H). The ethmoturbinal I of crocidurines splits into two: the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior directing dorsally and the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior directing ventrally. Moreover, the ethmoturbinal I is the largest of all turbinals. The ethmoturbinal II extends ventrodorsally. The ethmoturbinal III forms two secondary lamellae and each structure scrolls. Furthermore, the interturbinal protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II and forms two secondary lamellae, and each secondary lamella of the interturbinal scrolls. The epiturbinal protrusion from the dorsal side of the ethmoturbinal II has not been found.

To our knowledge, Roux (1947) is the only study that described the fetal crocidurine with the observation of the development of S. varilla. The author showed the section of the nasal capsule with only an CRL 18 mm fetus. The turbinal structure of S. varilla presented by Roux (1947) resembles that of the mid and late stages of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi (Fig. 5B, C, F, G). The fetus of S. varilla (Roux 1947) has the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior, which is the ventral one of the bifurcated ethmoturbinal I, and II, which extends from the ventral side of the inner nasal wall to the dorsal side. One interturbinal is found between these turbinals. There is no epiturbinal on the dorsal side of the ethmoturbinal II (Roux 1947).

There have been many studies on the turbinal structure of adult soricines, such as S. araneus (Paulli 1900c; Ärnbäck Christle-Linde 1907; Ganeshina et al. 1957; Ioana 1970; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977; Söllner and Kraft 1980; Parker 1885; Maier 2002, 2020), Sorex hoyi (Ganeshina et al. 1957), Neomys fodiens (Ioana 1970; Söllner and Kraft 1980; Maier 2002, 2020), Sorex minutus (Söllner and Kraft 1980), and Blarina brevicauda, Sorex cinereus, Sorex fumeus, and Sorex palustris (Larochelle and Baron 1989). The number of turbinals is consistent (Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977; Söllner and Kraft 1980; Larochelle and Baron 1989). The structure of the turbinals within the ethmoturbinal recess of S. hosonoi observed in this study and that of the species of previous studies were also consistent. As for the structure of the ethmoturbinal recess of soricines, the ethmoturbinal I splits into two with the ethmoturbinal I pars anterior extending dorsally and the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior extending ventrally; the ethmoturbinal I is the largest of all turbinals. The ethmoturbinal II extends ventrodorsally. The ethmoturbinal III bears two secondary lamellae and scrolls caudally (Ärnbäck Christle-Linde 1907; Ganeshina et al. 1957; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977; Söllner and Kraft 1980; Larochelle and Baron 1989).

The turbinal found between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II in soricines is rather different from the interturbinal, which is found between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II in crocidurines (Larochelle and Baron 1989). While the structure seen in soricines made a dorsal single scroll, the interturbinal of crocidurines bear two secondary lamellae, both lamellae scrolling ventrally (Larochelle and Baron 1989). We also observed the difference in the structure of the turbinal between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II among S. hosonoi and S. murinus (Fig. 5D–5, J-5). There have been disagreements over the identification of the turbinal between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II. Larochelle and Baron (1989) identified this turbinal as the accessory of the ethmoturbinal I since the caudal side of the turbinal lamellae is from the root of the ethmoturbinal I. On the other hand, Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel (1977) and Söllner and Kraft (1980) identified it as the interturbinal that protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall to the cavity space. At the moment, the observation of the adult turbinals does not allow us to resolve the problem of identification.

De Beer (1929) described fetal soricine using S. araneus. For a fetus with the size of CRL 11 mm, he illustrated a sole protrusion at the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and ethmoturbinal II. While de Beer did not refer to this protrusion, we regard this structure as a primordium of the interturbinal before the cartilage penetrates from the inner lateral nasal wall. Parker (1885) illustrated a short protrusion filled with cartilaginous structure at the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and ethmoturbinal II in the coronal section of the neonate of S. araneus (10–12 day old) (plate 30) (Supplementary Fig. 1). He did not name each turbinal in the study and only stated the short protrusion as “middle turbinal”. The region of the protrusion of the “middle turbinal” is identical to that of the “protrusion” described by de Beer in the fetus of CRL 11 mm. We were not able to observe a turbinal structure between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and ethmoturbinal II in the early stage of S. hosonoi (Fig. 5I–5). Nonetheless, the position and the structure of the interturbinal observed in the late stages of S. murinus and C. dsinezumi are identical to that of the short protruding turbinal illustrated in the neonate of Parker 1885; hence, identifying the protrusion of de Beer (1929) and the short protrusion of Parker (1885) as interturbinals is compelling (Fig. 5C–5, G-5). By comprehending the observation of de Beer’s fetal Sorex and the neonate of Parker (1885), together with the observation of the development of fetal crocidurines in this study, we support the claim of Ganeshina et al. (1957), Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel (1977), and Söllner and Kraft (1980) that the turbinal between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II in soricines is the interturbinal rather than the identification of Larochelle and Baron (1989) as the accessory of the ethmoturbinal I.

Some studies claim that the maxilloturbinal of N. fodiens does not bear the secondary lamellae, but scrolls dorsally and the maxilloturbinal of S. araneus bears two secondary lamellae (Söllner and Kraft 1980; Larochelle and Baron 1989); nonetheless, their observations are limited to several histological sections. In fact, Maier showed that the maxilloturbinal of N. fodiens forms three lamellae (two dorsally and one ventrally) using serial sections (Maier 2002; Maier 2020). Additionally, Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel (1977) indicated that the maxilloturbinal of S. araneus forms three lamellae (one dorsally and two ventrally). Several studies showed that the maxilloturbinal of S. murinus forms two lamellae (Sharma 1958; Kuramoto 1980; Larochelle and Baron 1989), but these assertions were based on only a few sections. In this study, we indicate that the maxilloturbinal of S. murinus forms three lamellae using serial CT sections (Fig. 5D–2). Researchers are prone to misjudgements when identifying turbinals using only a few sections. To accurately comprehend the turbinal structure, we have to make sections in which we can identify all turbinal lamellae (a very fortunate phenomenon); the alternative solution is to observe serial sections or CT images that show continuous turbinal structures.

Furthermore, several authors reported that the maxilloturbinal does not form any lamellae in fetal soricids, while it bears two to three lamellae in the adult as described here and in other studies (de Beer 1929; Roux 1947) (Fig. 5D–2, H-2, J-2). The maxilloturbinal does not form the secondary lamellae in postnatal (10–12 day-old) S. araneus described by Parker (1885). Hence, it is highly likely that the maxilloturbinal of soricids forms the secondary lamellae in the postnatal period.

Researchers have looked closely into the turbinal structure of E. europaeus for erinaceids (Parker 1885; Paulli 1900c; Fawcett 1918; Ganeshina et al. 1957; Gurtovoi 1966; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977). Paulli (1900c), Ganeshina et al. (1957), Gurtovoi (1966), and Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel (1977) showed the section of adult E. europaeus. The ethmoturbinal I protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall and splits into the dorsal pars anterior and the ventral pars posterior. The ethmoturbinal II extends from the ventral to the dorsal side. The ethmoturbinal III forms two secondary lamellae and each scrolls. The turbinal structure and the position exhibited in the previous studies are similar to those of talpids and soricids which we observed. The coronal section of adult E. europaeus indicates that the interturbinal protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II (Paulli 1900c; Ganeshina et al. 1957; Gurtovoi 1966; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977) (Supplementary Fig. 2). Moreover, Paulli (1900c), Gurtovoi (1966), and Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel (1977) observed the epiturbinal that protruded from the ethmoturbinal II (Supplementary Fig. 2).

To accurately conclude that the interturbinal and the epiturbinal of erinaceids are homologous structures to those of talpids and soricids, we have to examine their development. Nonetheless, the study on the erinaceid turbinal structure is very limited. To our knowledge, two species have been the subject of research: E. europaeus (Parker 1885; Fawcett 1918; Michelsson 1922) and H. auritus (Youssef 1971). Among these, coronal sections are provided by Parker (1885) with a fetus with a body length of 31.8 mm and Youssef (1971) with a fetus with a head length of 7.5–8.5 mm. Unfortunately, their fetuses are rather small such that only a few turbinals and laminae (most likely the lamina horizontalis, ethmoturbinal I, Iamina semicircularis, and the frontoturbinal 1) are observed within the ethmoturbinal recess. As the development of the interturbinal and the epiturbinal at the ethmoturbinal II is not observed in these fetuses, it is necessary to observe various developmental stages to identify the turbinals of erinaceids. According to the previous turbinal studies on adult E. europaeus, the interturbinal protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I and the ethmoturbinal II within the ethmoturbinal recess, and the epiturbinal protrudes from the dorsal side of the ethmoturbinal II. Paulli (1900c), Fawcett (1918), and de Beer (1929) stated that the structure of the nasal cavity of erinaceids does not vary between Talpidae and Sorex. Nonetheless, as the epiturbinal protrudes from the ethmoturbinal II, the structure of erinaceids shows a close resemblance with talpids rather than soricids (Table 2).

Moreover, previous descriptions show that E. europaeus has a multi-branching and ventrally enlarged maxilloturbinal (Parker 1885; Ganeshina et al. 1957; Gurtovoi 1966; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977). However, all fetuses of Parker (1885), Fawcett (1918), and Michelsson (1922)) do not indicate any bifurcations. Similar to talpids and soricids, we do not know when the maxilloturbinal erinaceids bifurcates.

The nasoturbinal of adult E. europaeus is rostrocaudally elongated, and it is also formed at the snout region (Ganeshina et al. 1957; Gurtovoi 1966; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977).

As for solenodontids, a destroyed skull of adult Solenodon paradoxus exhibits the turbinals of the nasal cavity (Wible 2008). Wible (2008) showed the ethmoturbinal I–III in the ethmoturbinal recess (Table 2). Nonetheless, he did not describe the interturbinal and the epiturbinal at the ethmoturbinal II; this is most likely because he could not perceive the detailed nasal structure from the damaged skull, including the presence or the absence of the interturbinal and the epiturbinal.

The maxilloturbinal of adult S. paradoxus enlarges at the ventral side of the nasal cavity with many lamellae (Wible 2008).

The nasoturbinal is rostrocaudally elongated. Maier (2020) showed that the external nasal cartilages of S. paradoxus enlarges (Maier 2020). While it is uncertain as Maier (2020) did not describe the nasoturbinal in the snout, if S. paradoxus had the nasoturbinal in the snout as in mammals in general, their nasoturbinal would be longer rostrocaudally than the nasoturbinal observed by Wible (2008) from the dry skull.

Here, we show the molecular phylogenetic tree of eulipotyphlans (Fig. 7). The turbinal bones are very thin and fragile. A few studies described the turbinals, based on fossils; however, there is a limit to how far we can understand the turbinal structure based on fossils (Maier 1983; Maier and Ruf 2014; Ruf et al. 2014, 2021). Even if a fossil of a common ancestor of all eulipotyphlans species were to be found, the possibility of observing the turbinal structure would be quite low. As the turbinal structures cannot be comprehended through fossils, estimating these from the living species is effective for understanding the evolution of turbinals.

Figure 7. 

Inferred evolutionary history of the nasal structures. Nasoturbinal (purple); maxilloturbinal (light blue); frontoturbinal (green, light green); lamina semicircularis (grey); lamina horizontalis (pink); ethmoturbinal I pars anterior (red); ethmoturbinal I pars posterior (light coral); ethmoturbinal II (orange); ethmoturbinal III (yellow); ethmoturbinal IV (light yellow); epiturbinal (chocolate); interturbinal (white); unknown turbinal (broken line).

Eulipotyphlans belongs to boreoeutherians, which also includes euarchontoglirans (dermopterans, lagomorphans, primates, rodentians, and scandentians) and laurasiatherians (carnivorans, cetartiodactylans, pholidotans, perissodactylans, and chiropterans) (Waddell et al. 1999). The turbinal structures in some of these groups are listed in Table 4, following previous studies.

Here we summarise the structure of the turbinal and lamina of eulipotyphlans (Fig. 7). The number of the ethmoturbinal and the structure of the nasoturbinal and lamina semicircularis are consistent among the species of eulipotyphlans. The number of the ethmoturbinal of talpids and soricids which we observed is the same (ethmoturbinal I–III) (Table 2). Previous studies of the turbinal of eulipotyphlans also showed that the number of the ethmoturbinal is between I–III (Ganeshina et al. 1957; Gurtovoi 1966; Ioana 1970; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977; Söllner and Kraft 1980; Larochelle and Baron 1989; Wible 2008). We can predict that the common ancestor of eulipotyphlans had ethmoturbinal I–III (Fig. 7).

Moreover, the nasoturbinal extends rostrocaudally and protrudes dorsoventrally within the nasal cavity (Figs 4, 5). The rostral side of the lamina semicircularis fused to the caudal side of the nasoturbinal and the caudal side of the lamina semicircularis expands dorsoventrally (Ganeshina et al. 1957; Gurtovoi 1966; Ioana 1970; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977; Söllner and Kraft 1980; Larochelle and Baron 1989; Wible 2008) (Figs 4, 5).

The structure of the ethmoturbinal recess and the maxilloturbinal varies among groups in eulipotyphlans. As for the turbinals within the ethmoturbinal recess, erinaceids have the interturbinal that protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II and the epiturbinal that protrudes from the ethmoturbinal II as reported in laurasiatherians other than eulipotyphlans (no previous research on solenodontids) (Paulli 1900c; Ganeshina et al. 1957; Gurtovoi 1966; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977; Wible 2008). Talpids also have the interturbinal that protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II and the epiturbinal that protrudes from the ethmoturbinal II (Fig. 4D–4, D-5, G-5, G-4). Hence, we consider this “interturbinal that protrudes from the inner lateral nasal wall between the ethmoturbinal I pars posterior and the ethmoturbinal II and the epiturbinal that protrudes from the ethmoturbinal II” as the basal structure of the ethmoturbinal recess (Fig. 7). In soricids, this study showed that the epiturbinal is not formed at the ethmoturbinal II (Fig. 5D–5, H-5, J-5). Hence, the turbinal modification (the absence of the epiturbinal at the ethmoturbinal II) at the ethmoturbinal recess of eulipotyphlans occurred in soricids (Fig. 7).

The maxilloturbinal of erinaceids (Parker 1885; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977) and solenodontids (Wible 2008) is large at the ventral side with more than three lamellae (multi-branching) like other laurasiatherians. On the other hand, previous studies and this study show that the maxilloturbinal of talpids and soricids forms two or three lamellae (Figs 4D–2, G-2, 5D-2, H-2, J-2) (Ganeshina et al. 1957; Gurtovoi 1966; Woehrmann-Repenning and Meinel 1977; Söllner and Kraft 1980; Larochelle and Baron 1989). While the lamellae of the maxilloturbinal of talpids and soricids exhibits a slight difference in number, they are similar in a development pattern such that their “maxilloturbinal do not form the lamellae even at the late stage just before birth” (Figs 4C–2, F-2, 5C-2, G-2). Moreover, the maxilloturbinal do not form the lamellae in the new bone of E. europaeus (Parker 1885).

Therefore, two scenarios for the evolution of the maxilloturbinal of eulipotyphlans can be suggested: 1) The maxilloturbinal is reduced independently in talpids and soricids. Based on the maximum parsimony method, in this scenario, we believe that the multi-branching maxilloturbinal, which was obtained by the common ancestor of laurasiatherians, reduced independently in the ancestor of talpids and soricids (Fig. 7). 2) The maxilloturbinal reduced in the common ancestor of eulipotyphlans. This scenario is supported by the commonality of the developmental processes of the maxilloturbinal in eulipotyphlans. The reduced maxilloturbinal later bore the lamellae and enlarged in the common ancestor of erinaceids, solenodontids, and soricids. Moreover, the maxilloturbinal of soricids was again reduced (Fig. 7). The second scenario would have more character-state changes and can be problematic. In turbinal evolution, compared with forming a brand new turbinal, it is rather popular to increase or decrease the number of lamellae at the peripheral region to increase or decrease the size of the maxilloturbinal; hence, this change can be seen in various lineages. The change in size can easily occur in turbinal evolution. Although not parsimonious as the first scenario, the second scenario cannot be eliminated as the size of the turbinal is evolutionary labile. To confirm this hypothesis, we must observe the course of development in the maxilloturbinal from the fetus (when the maxilloturbinal starts bearing the secondary lamellae) to adult in each group of eulipotyphlans.