Morphological disparity in CP seen in elephant, tarsier, platypus and dog skull models.

CP morphological disparity viewed in 3D models constructed with Mimics and 3-matic software from high-resolution CT scans. Yellow top center: CP of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana), viewed here from brain case, has the largest absolute and relative surface area and ~1,000 foramina for passage of olfactory nerves to the brain. Extreme reduction of complexity is evident in CPs of the tarsier (Tarsius syrichtus) (green, lower left) and platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) (orange, bottom center) CPs. Dog (Canis familiaris) CP (blue, lower right). The inset superimposed over elephant model shows tarsier, platypus and dog CPs to scale with the elephant’s CP.