Ear ossicles a part of Skull? Is there anything special about not considering ear ossicles as a part of skull? I could not understand the reasoning behind such classification.

The justification is simple.

The bones of the ear [ear ossicles] do not articulate with any other bone of the skull hence it is not considered as a part of the skull, similar is the case with the hyoid which is attached to the tongue.These bones have been placed under the group of associated bones.