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Gruwier BJ, Kovarovic K. Ecomorphology of the cervid intermediate phalanx and its implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. J Morphol 2023; 284:e21528. [PMID: 36310423 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This paper reports on newly developed ecomorphological models for the cervid intermediate phalanx. Using a geometric morphometric approach, we quantitatively assess the overall gracility of the bone, the depth and concavity of the proximal articulation and the roundness and symmetry of the distal articulation in the intermediate phalanx, to establish relationships between morphology, locomotor behavior and environment. The morphology of the phalanx was found to vary along a gradient from gracile phalanges with shallow proximal articulations in forms adapted to yielding substrate, to robust phalanges with deeper proximal articulations in taxa adapted to firm substrate. Phylogeny and allometry are accounted for using regressions and phylogenetic comparative methods. Although the results indicate phylogeny explains part of the morphological variation, overall the shape of the intermediate phalanx appears mainly driven by differences in function. Consequently, this element promises to be a useful palaeoenvironmental proxy that can be applied on fossil assemblages with cervid remains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Gruwier
- Department of Art Sciences and Archaeology, Maritime Cultures Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Research Unit: Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Kris Kovarovic
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK
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2
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Vera B, Medina-González P, Moreno K. Paleobiological inferences on middle Eocene native ungulates from South America: Functional morphological analysis of Notostylops and Notopithecus. J Morphol 2022; 283:1231-1256. [PMID: 35915873 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Eocene early-diverging representatives of South American extinct notungulates are traditionally considered to have been "generalists" and "non-specialized" in terms of the appendicular skeleton and locomotor behavior, as is the case with the notostylopid Notostylops, a middle Eocene iconic taxon from Patagonia (Argentina). However, they are mainly known from dental remains, and associated cranial and postcranial elements are scarce. The discovery of a nearly complete specimen attributed to N. murinus allows us to: (1) increase the knowledge of the anatomy of its appendicular skeleton; (2) identify isolated bones from several collections and suggest different taxonomic interpretations for published specimens; (3) perform a biomechanical and functional study using functional morphological analysis to infer its paleoecological attributes (e.g. posture, locomotor habit, estimated speed, and body mass); and (4) establish morphofunctional comparisons, based on possible functional ranges, with other extinct early-diverging notoungulates from the middle Eocene, such as the Notopithecid Notopithecus. Our evidence suggests that Notostylops was a medium-sized mammal (8.5-20 kg), which could achieve a dynamic digitigrade posture that allowed a scansorial secondary locomotor habit and a speed of up to 50 km/h. However, Notopithecus was a small-sized mammal (0.6-1.4 kg) with a plantigrade posture both in a static and dynamic context, terrestrial habits, and a speed of up to 35 km/h. Therefore, we conclude that these Eocene notoungulates show different locomotor capabilities, which can be associated with early niche diversifications, clearly contrasting with the "all-generalists" paradigmatic view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Vera
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Paul Medina-González
- Departamento de Kinesiología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica del Maule, Avenida San Miguel, Talca, Chile
| | - Karen Moreno
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Casilla, Chile
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3
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Georgitsis MK, Liakopoulou DΕ, Theodorou GE, Tsiolakis E. Functional morphology of the hindlimb of fossilized pygmy hippopotamus from Ayia Napa (Cyprus). J Morphol 2022; 283:1048-1079. [PMID: 35708268 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We studied the functional morphology of the postcranial skeleton of the endemic hippopotamus Phanourios minor, derived from the Upper Pleistocene site of Ayia Napa. The deposit, which consists of a hard limestone substrate on which the species moved, has yielded a great abundance of hippopotamus material, making the Ayia Napa locality one of the most important paleontological sites in Cyprus. The immigration of the large-sized mainland Hippopotamus to Cyprus led to the emergence of a new insular species with its main characteristic being the extremely reduced body size. In this study, all the hindlimb elements of the Cypriot hippo are described in detail and compared with those of the modern species, with the extant Hippopotamus amphibius being considered similar to the possible ancestor of P. minor. In some cases, the morphological comparison is reinforced using bones of other extinct insular and mainland hippos. Additionally, we provided a functional analysis of the hindlimb joints, suggesting specific locomotor habits for the species. The anatomical examination reveals that the elements in P. minor are robust with marked muscular insertion areas resembling those found in Hippopotamus. However, there are also similarities with Choeropsis liberiensis in certain morphofunctional traits. P. minor adapted to slow but powerful locomotion with remarkable stabilization, particularly in the zeugopodium and the autopodium. The knee was less mobile in the craniocaudal direction compared with that in recent hippos, while the abduction-adduction movements of the thigh were advanced. The pes presented good mobility in the sagittal plane and limitation in transversal movements. Thus, P. minor displayed modifications to its limbs, influenced by the mountainous island environment and the body size reduction, resulting in specialized locomotion, which was different from that of extant hippopotamuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail K Georgitsis
- Department of Historical Geology-Paleontology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dionysia Ε Liakopoulou
- Department of Historical Geology-Paleontology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios E Theodorou
- Department of Historical Geology-Paleontology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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4
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Osteological foot differences between giraffes from distinct geographical locations; a pilot study. ZOOL ANZ 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2022.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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5
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Gruwier BJ, Kovarovic K. Ecomorphology of the cervid calcaneus as a proxy for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 305:2207-2226. [PMID: 34837351 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This study presents new ecomorphological models for the cervid calcaneus that can be used to make predictions about the nature of ancient environments. Using geometric morphometrics to quantitatively assess the length of the articular surface supporting the malleolus, the length and orientation of the tuber calcanei, and the position of the articular facets, we aimed to establish correlations between morphological traits, locomotor behavior, and environmental parameters in extant cervids. The morphology of the calcaneus was found to primarily vary with locomotor strategy and habitat, along a continuum from habitats with an open vegetation structure to habitats with a closed vegetation structure. Confounding factors, including sexual dimorphism, allometry, and phylogeny were accounted for using Principal Component Analysis, regressions and phylogenetic comparative methods. The results of our analyses suggested that these factors did not substantially obscure habitat predictions. As such, the calcaneus provides a valuable proxy for paleoenvironmental reconstruction that is broadly applicable to Quaternary fossil assemblages with a sufficiently large sample of cervids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Gruwier
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK.,HALMA - UMR 8164 (CNRS), Université de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Kris Kovarovic
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK
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6
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Meloro C, Tamagnini D. Macroevolutionary ecomorphology of the Carnivora skull: adaptations and constraints in the extant species. Zool J Linn Soc 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The mammalian order Carnivora is characterized by a broad taxonomic and ecological diversity. By using a large sample of extant species, we tested the impact of ecological factors on carnivoran skull (cranium and mandible) morphology, taking advantage of a combined geometric morphometrics and comparative method approach. We implemented several evolutionary models to account for different tempo and mode of evolution in size and shape data. These models validated the association between skull morphology and diet at the interspecific scale. The functional distinction between pinniped (aquatic) and fissiped (mostly terrestrial) taxa was found valid only in mandible shape and cranial size. High levels of morphological disparity and evolutionary rates were identified in specialized dietary groups, and positive association between rates and disparity was found for skull size. Cranium and mandible showed consistent patterns of covariation that reflect constrained functional processes, which stabilize the ecomorphological evolution of Carnivora. Aquatic adaptations allowed carnivorans to invade and persist within novel regions of the mandibular morphospace. This ecological shift did not increase morphological disparity but occurred at a faster rate than in terrestrial species. Those species exhibit a stronger level of cranio-mandibular covariation due to constraints imposed by more demanding masticatory adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Meloro
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Davide Tamagnini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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Short RA, Lawing AM. Geography of artiodactyl locomotor morphology as an environmental predictor. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A. Short
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology Texas A&M University College Station TX USA
- School of Biological Sciences Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta GA USA
| | - A. Michelle Lawing
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology Texas A&M University College Station TX USA
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Dumouchel L, Bobe R, Wynn JG, Barr WA. The environments of Australopithecus anamensis at Allia Bay, Kenya: A multiproxy analysis of early Pliocene Bovidae. J Hum Evol 2021; 151:102928. [PMID: 33453510 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Australopithecus anamensis, among the earliest fully bipedal hominin species, lived in eastern Africa around 4 Ma. Much of what is currently known about the paleoecology of A. anamensis comes from the type locality, Kanapoi, Kenya. Here, we extend knowledge of the range of environments occupied by A. anamensis by presenting the first multiproxy paleoecological analysis focusing on Bovidae excavated from another important locality where A. anamensis was recovered, locality 261-1 (ca. 3.97 Ma) at Allia Bay, East Turkana, Kenya. Paleoenvironments are reconstructed using astragalar ecomorphology, mesowear, hypsodonty index, and oxygen and carbon isotopes from dental enamel. We compare our results to those obtained from Kanapoi. Our results show that the bovid community composition is similar between the two fossil assemblages. Allia Bay and Kanapoi bovid astragalar ecomorphology spans the spectrum of modern morphologies indicative of grassland, woodland, and even forest-adapted forms. Dietary reconstructions based on stable isotopes, mesowear, and hypsodonty reveal that these bovids' diet encompassed the full C3 to C4 dietary spectrum and overlap in the two data sets. Our results allow us to confidently extend our reconstructions of the paleoenvironments of A. anamensis at Kanapoi to Allia Bay, where this pivotal hominin species is associated with heterogeneous settings including habitats with varying degrees of tree cover, including grasslands, bushlands, and woodlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Dumouchel
- Department of Anthropology, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount Street, Wichita, KS 67260, USA.
| | - René Bobe
- Primate Models for Behavioural Evolution Lab, Institute of Cognitive & Evolutionary Anthropology, School of Anthropology, University of Oxford, 64 Banbury Rd, Park Town, Oxford, OX2 6PN, UK; Paleo-Primate Project Gorongosa, Gorongosa National Park, Sofala, Mozambique; Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArEHB), Universidade Do Algarve, Campus de Penha, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Jonathan G Wynn
- Division of Earth Sciences, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
| | - W Andrew Barr
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, 800 22(nd)Street Northwest, Suite 6000, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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Etienne C, Filippo A, Cornette R, Houssaye A. Effect of mass and habitat on the shape of limb long bones: A morpho-functional investigation on Bovidae (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla). J Anat 2020; 238:886-904. [PMID: 33210307 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Limb long bones are essential to an animal's locomotion, and are thus expected to be heavily influenced by factors such as mass or habitat. Because they are often the only organs preserved in the fossil record, understanding their adaptive trends is key to reconstructing the paleobiology of fossil taxa. In this regard, the Bovidae has always been a prized group of study. This family is extremely diverse in terms of both mass and habitat, and it is expected that their bones will possess adaptations to both factors. Here, we present the first 3D geometric morphometric study focusing on bovid limb long bones. We used anatomical landmarks as well as curve and surface sliding semi-landmarks to accurately describe the stylopod and zeugopod bones. We included 50 species from ten of the twelve currently recognized tribes of bovids, ranging from 4.6 to 725 kg, and living in open plains, forests, mountains, or anywhere in-between. Shape data were correlated with the mean mass of the species and its habitat, even when taking into account the phylogenetic history of our sample. Bones pertaining to heavy species are more robust, adapted for a better repartition of stronger forces. Articulations are especially affected, being proportionally much larger in heavier species. Muscle insertion areas are unevenly affected. Insertion areas of muscles implied in body support and propulsion show a strong increase in their robustness when compared to insertion areas of muscles acting on the limb mostly when it is off the ground. Habitat influences the shape of the humerus, the radius-ulna, and the femur, but not of the tibia, whether the phylogeny is taken into account or not. Specific habitats tend to be associated with particular features on the bones. Articulations are proportionally wider in open-habitat species, and the insertion areas of muscles involved in limb extension and propulsion are wider, reflecting the fact that open habitat species are more cursorial and rely on fast running to avoid predators. Forest and mountain species generally present similar adaptations for increased manoeuvrability, such as a round femoral head, and generally have more gracile bones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Etienne
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution (MECADEV), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Andréa Filippo
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution (MECADEV), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Raphaël Cornette
- UMR 7205, Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution (MECADEV), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
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10
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Dunn RH, Avery JE. Ecomorphological variation in artiodactyl calcanei using 3D geometric morphometrics. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 304:1529-1540. [PMID: 33099873 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Artiodactyl postcrania are commonly used as paleoecological indicators but these studies are usually limited to artiodactyls within a single family. Here, we use 3D geometric morphometrics to analyze the morphology of calcanei from five artiodactyl families (Antilocapridae, Bovidae, Cervidae, Giraffidae, and Tragulidae) and identify common ecological trends among these families using principal component analysis. Our results indicate that antilocaprid and some bovid calcanei show convergent evolution of cursorial morphology and that other bovids have independently evolved less cursorial morphology that is more similar to cervids. This study shows that parallel ecomorphological trends can be identified in multiple families of artiodactyls, as well as within artiodactyl groups. This further suggests that the calcaneus may be a good indicator of ecology and function in fossil groups that are taxonomically ambiguous or not closely related to living taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel H Dunn
- Department of Anatomy, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines University, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Jori E Avery
- Department of Biology, Grand View University, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Pelletier M, Kotiaho A, Niinimäki S, Salmi AK. Identifying early stages of reindeer domestication in the archaeological record: a 3D morphological investigation on forelimb bones of modern populations from Fennoscandia. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2020; 12:169. [PMID: 32704330 PMCID: PMC7366605 DOI: 10.1007/s12520-020-01123-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Reindeer herding probably developed during the Late Iron Age onwards and is still an important part of the subsistence and culture of many peoples in northern Eurasia. However, despite the importance of this husbandry in the history of these Arctic people, the period and place of the origin as well as the spread of domestic reindeer is still highly debated. Besides the existence of different breeding methods in these territories, identifying domesticated individuals in the archaeological record is complicated because reindeers are considered to still be in the early phases of the domestication process. Indeed, the traditional morphological markers used in zooarchaeology to decipher the domestication syndrome are hardly perceptible in these early stages. In this work, we propose solutions for identifying domestic reindeer bones using 3D geometric morphometrics on isolated elements from the long bones of the forelimb (i.e. humerus, radio-ulna and metacarpal). These bones are important to understand both the feeding behaviour and the mobility of reindeer, and the potential effect of load-carrying or draught in the case of domestic reindeer. We analysed 123 modern specimens from Fennoscandia, including the two interbreeding subspecies currently present in these territories: mountain reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and forest reindeer (R.t. fennicus); and where the sex and the lifestyle were known (i.e. free-ranging, racing or draught and captive individuals). A good level of discrimination between the size and shape variables of the bones of the forelimb was found among both subspecies and sexes. Moreover, individuals bred in captivity had smaller bone elements and a thinner and more slender morphology than free-ranging individuals. This demonstrates that the long bones of the forelimb can provide information on changes in feeding and locomotor behaviour prompted by the domestication process, like control and/or reduction of mobility and food of individual reindeer by humans. This also demonstrates that analysis in 3D geometric morphometrics is useful in detecting reindeer incipient domestication markers. Our results can be used by archaeologists to trace the early stages of domestication from fossil reindeer remains, and aid in reconstructing the socio-economic changes of past Arctic populations over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Pelletier
- Archaeology, History, Culture and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Antti Kotiaho
- Department of Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sirpa Niinimäki
- Archaeology, History, Culture and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Anna-Kaisa Salmi
- Archaeology, History, Culture and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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12
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Etienne C, Mallet C, Cornette R, Houssaye A. Influence of mass on tarsus shape variation: a morphometrical investigation among Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia: Perissodactyla). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Many tetrapod lineages show extreme increases in body mass in their evolutionary history, associated with important osteological changes. The ankle joint, essential for foot movement, is assumed to be particularly affected in this regard. We investigated the morphological adaptations of the astragalus and the calcaneus in Rhinocerotidae, and analysed them in light of a comparative analysis with other Perissodactyla. We performed 3D geometric morphometrics and correlated shape with centroid size of the bone and body mass of the species. Our results show that mass has an influence on bone shape in Rhinocerotidae and in Perissodactyla, but this is not as strong as expected. In heavy animals the astragalus has a flatter trochlea, orientated more proximally, associated with a more upright posture of the limb. The calcaneus is more robust, possibly to sustain the greater tension force exerted by the muscles during plantarflexion. Both bones show wider articular facets, providing greater cohesion and better dissipation of the loading forces. The body plan of the animals also has an influence. Short-legged Teleoceratina have a flatter astragalus than the other rhinocerotids. Paraceratherium has a thinner calcaneus than expected. This study clarifies adaptations to high body weight among Rhinocerotidae and calls for similar investigations in other groups with massive forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Etienne
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Mallet
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Raphaël Cornette
- UMR 7205, Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Ecole Publique des Hautes Etudes, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
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Fatica LM, Almécija S, McFarlin SC, Hammond AS. Pelvic shape variation among gorilla subspecies: Phylogenetic and ecological signals. J Hum Evol 2019; 137:102684. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2019.102684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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14
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15
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Andrew Barr W. The Morphology of the Bovid Calcaneus: Function, Phylogenetic Signal, and Allometric Scaling. J MAMM EVOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-018-9446-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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16
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Young JW, Shapiro LJ. Developments in development: What have we learned from primate locomotor ontogeny? AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 165 Suppl 65:37-71. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse W. Young
- Department of Anatomy and NeurobiologyNortheast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)Rootstown Ohio, 44272
| | - Liza J. Shapiro
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of TexasAustin Texas, 78712
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Forrest FL, Plummer TW, Raaum RL. Ecomorphological analysis of bovid mandibles from Laetoli Tanzania using 3D geometric morphometrics: Implications for hominin paleoenvironmental reconstruction. J Hum Evol 2018; 114:20-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2014] [Revised: 09/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Three-Dimensional Geometric Morphometrics in Paleoecology. VERTEBRATE PALEOBIOLOGY AND PALEOANTHROPOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-94265-0_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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The earliest ossicone and post-cranial record of Giraffa. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185139. [PMID: 28926638 PMCID: PMC5605118 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The oldest Giraffa material presently known consists of dental specimens. The oldest post-cranial Giraffa material belongs to the Plio-Pleistocene taxon Giraffa sivalensis, where the holotype is a third cervical vertebra. We describe three non-dental specimens from the Early Late Miocene of the Potwar Plateau, including an 8.1 million year old ossicone, 9.4 million year old astragalus, and 8.9 million year old metatarsal and refer them to Giraffa. The described ossicone exhibits remarkable similarities with the ossicones of a juvenile modern giraffe, including the distribution of secondary bone growth, posterior curvature, and concave pitted undersurface where the ossicone would attach to the skull. The astragalus has a notably flat grove of the trochlea, medial twisting between the trochlea and the head, and a square-shaped sustentacular facet, all of which characterize the astragalus of Giraffa camelopardalis. The newly described astragalus is narrow and rectangular, unlike the boxy shaped bone of the modern giraffe. The metatarsal is large in size and has a shallow central trough created by thin medial and lateral ridges, a feature unique to Giraffa and Sivatherium. Our described material introduce the earliest non-dental material of Giraffa, a genus whose extinct representation is otherwise dominated by teeth, and demonstrate that the genus has been morphologically consistent over 9 million years.
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Curran SC, Haile-Selassie Y. Paleoecological reconstruction of hominin-bearing middle Pliocene localities at Woranso-Mille, Ethiopia. J Hum Evol 2016; 96:97-112. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Solounias N, Danowitz M. Astragalar Morphology of Selected Giraffidae. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151310. [PMID: 27028515 PMCID: PMC4814102 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The artiodactyl astragalus has been modified to exhibit two trochleae, creating a double pullied structure allowing for significant dorso-plantar motion, and limited mediolateral motion. The astragalus structure is partly influenced by environmental substrates, and correspondingly, morphometric studies can yield paleohabitat information. The present study establishes terminology and describes detailed morphological features on giraffid astragali. Each giraffid astragalus exhibits a unique combination of anatomical characteristics. The giraffid astragalar morphologies reinforce previously established phylogenetic relationships. We find that the enlargement of the navicular head is a feature shared by all giraffids, and that the primitive giraffids possess exceptionally tall astragalar heads in relation to the total astragalar height. The sivatheres and the okapi share a reduced notch on the lateral edge of the astragalus. We find that Samotherium is more primitive in astragalar morphologies than Palaeotragus, which is reinforced by tooth characteristics and ossicone position. Diagnostic anatomical characters on the astragalus allow for giraffid species identifications and a better understanding of Giraffidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikos Solounias
- Department of Anatomy, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, United States of America
- Department of Paleontology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79 Street, New York, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Melinda Danowitz
- Department of Anatomy, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, United States of America
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Elton S, Jansson AU, Meloro C, Louys J, Plummer T, Bishop LC. Exploring morphological generality in the Old World monkey postcranium using an ecomorphological framework. J Anat 2016; 228:534-60. [PMID: 26791626 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Nearly all primates are ecologically dependent on trees, but they are nonetheless found in an enormous range of habitats, from highly xeric environments to dense rainforest. Most primates have a relatively 'generalised' skeleton, enabling locomotor flexibility and facilitating other crucial functions, such as manual foraging and grooming. This paper explores the associations between habitat, locomotion and morphology in the forelimbs of cercopithecids (Old World monkeys), contextualising their skeletal ecomorphological patterns with those of other mammals, and complementing functional morphological analyses with phylogenetic comparative techniques. The ecomorphological signals present in the generalised primate postcranium, and how an ancestral arboreal 'bauplan' might be modified to incorporate terrestriality or exploit distinct arboreal substrates, are investigated. Analysis of ecomorphological variation in guenons indicates that terrestrial Chlorocebus species retain core elements of a general guenon form, with modifications for terrestriality that vary by species. Adaptation to different modes of arboreality has also occurred in Cercopithecus. The considerable morphological similarity in the guenons sampled emphasises the importance of generality in the primate postcranium - much forelimb variation appears to have emerged stochastically, with a smaller number of traits having a strong functional signal. Analysis of a broader sample of cercopithecids and comparison with felids, suids and bovids indicates that although the cercopithecid humerus has functional morphological signals that enable specimens to be assigned with a reasonable degree of certainty to habitat groups, there is considerable overlap in the specimens assigned to each habitat group. This probably reflects ecological dependence on trees, even in predominantly terrestrial species, as well as the multiple functions of the forelimb and, in some cases, wide geographic distributions that promote intraspecific variation. The use of phylogenetic correction reduced the discriminatory power of the models, indicating that, like allometry, phylogeny contains important ecomorphological information, and should not necessarily be factored out of analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Elton
- Department of Anthropology, University of Durham, Durham, UK
| | | | - Carlo Meloro
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Julien Louys
- Department of Archaeology and Natural History, School of Culture, History and Languages, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Thomas Plummer
- Department of Anthropology, Queens College, CUNY and NYCEP, Flushing, NY, USA
| | - Laura C Bishop
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
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Bovid ecomorphology and hominin paleoenvironments of the Shungura Formation, lower Omo River Valley, Ethiopia. J Hum Evol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Barr WA. Paleoenvironments of the Shungura Formation (Plio-Pleistocene: Ethiopia) based on ecomorphology of the bovid astragalus. J Hum Evol 2015; 88:97-107. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Revised: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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