Figure 9 from: Slater G, Scheel D, Kolokotronis S, Potter C, Rotstein D, Tsangaras K, Greenwood A, Helgen K (2014) Biogeography and taxonomy of extinct and endangered monk seals illuminated by ancient DNA and skull morphology. ZooKeys 409: 1-33. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.409.6244

Figure 9 - Posteroventral view of the basicranium and left bulla in a Monachus monachus b Neomonachus schauinslandi, and c Neomonachus tropicalis. The bulla of Monachus is bordered posteriorly by a ventrally expanded posterior portion of the petro-mastoid complex. The petrosal abuts the bulla's posterior wall and in ventral view forms the entire lateral and anterolateral border of the posterior lacerate foramen. In Neomonachus, the posterior part of the petrosal is visible in the posterior lacerate foramen but remains superior to the bulla. In ventral view, this gives the impression that the anterior border of the posterior lacerate foramen is formed entirely by the bulla. The posterior carotid canal opens posteroventrally in Monachus. This apparently results from a relatively complete "ring-like" opening, formed by the bulla. This form of opening is apparent in subadult and juvenile Monachus, suggesting that it is not dependent on ontogenetic development or the robusticity of the Monachus cranium relative to Neomonachus. In contrast, the posterior carotid canal of Neomonachus opens directly posteriorly, the opening being an incomplete ring and the dorsal border formed by a flattening of the bulla, perhaps resulting from the bulla's extension over the petrosal.