Résumé
Many studies have been devoted to describing the morphological variations of the rodent skull and teeth. In comparison, the associated musculature has received relatively little attention. To date, myological studies have focused on only a limited number of rodent species, and detailed descriptions of the masticatory apparatus have covered only a small portion of the current rodent diversity. For instance, our knowledge of the muscular interspecific variation in murid rodents appears to be rather limited, with only a handful of taxa described out of the 834 recognized species. Different terminologies have been used depending on the group studied, which has largely hindered the recognition of homologies across the entire order. Advances in technology are driving a great deal of research, particularly in the areas of imaging and functional simulation. High-resolution X-ray microtomography has proven to be a powerful tool for unravelling intricate anatomical details, and much progress has recently been made in describing the mammalian masticatory apparatus using diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (DiceCT). Yet, despite the widespread use of imaging technology and shape analyses to study mineralized tissues (bones and teeth), soft tissues are much less commonly studied. We used DiceCT methods to explore the morphological variation of the musculature and biomechanics across the entire order Rodentia, and compared these results with observations made by classical dissections. Although DiceCT methods have allowed us to characterize the intricacy of the muscular and nervous systems, we have shown that some aspects of the morphological complexity of the masticatory apparatus may be either overlooked or missed. We advocate the combined use of traditional and 3D dissections to fully capture the extent of anatomical variation, since the use of DiceCT methods alone may create new confusion rather than help resolve old controversies.