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Shelbourne CD, Lautenschlager S. Morphological diversity of saber-tooth upper canines and its functional implications. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024. [PMID: 38646928 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25458] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Elongated upper canine teeth, commonly known as saber-teeth, have evolved three times within the sub-order Feliformia. The species that wielded them flourished throughout the Cenozoic and have historically been separated into two morphological groups: the dirk-tooths with longer, flatter canines, and the scimitar-tooths with shorter, serrated teeth. However, quantitative morphological analysis has not been conducted on these teeth to determine the true amount of diversity within the group, and how the upper canine morphology of extant feliforms compared to their extinct relatives has also not been explored. Using Geometric Morphometric analysis, it is shown that saber-tooth upper canine morphology is exceptionally diverse, with no extant clade having all its members occupy the same morphospace based on tooth length and curvature. Instead, a neutral basal morphospace is observed for all groups and diversification from this basal position is seen as species become more derived. A distinct and consistent scimitar tooth morphology is also not observed within the morphospace. When compared with extant taxa, several saber-tooth species are seen to be morphologically similar to extant feliforms, several of which exhibit novel dietary strategies in comparison to the obligate carnivore felids. Biomechanical analyses of different actual and theoretical tooth shapes demonstrate that saber-teeth upper canines further represent a functional compromise between sharpness, curvature, and length on the one hand, and robustness and material investment on the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin D Shelbourne
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Stephan Lautenschlager
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Lapworth Museum of Geology, Birmingham, UK
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2
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New remains of Ailuropoda melanoleuca baconi from Yanjinggou, China: Throwing light on the evolution of giant pandas during the Pleistocene. J MAMM EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-022-09637-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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3
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Ursids evolved early and continuously to be low-protein macronutrient omnivores. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15251. [PMID: 36085304 PMCID: PMC9463165 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19742-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The eight species of bears world-wide consume a wide variety of diets. Some are specialists with extensive anatomical and physiological adaptations necessary to exploit specific foods or environments [e.g., polar bears (Ursus maritimus), giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), and sloth bears (Melursus ursinus)], while the rest are generalists. Even though ursids evolved from a high-protein carnivore, we hypothesized that all have become low-protein macronutrient omnivores. While this dietary strategy has already been described for polar bears and brown bears (Ursus arctos), a recent study on giant pandas suggested their macronutrient selection was that of the ancestral high-protein carnivore. Consumption of diets with inappropriate macronutrient profiles has been associated with increased energy expenditure, ill health, failed reproduction, and premature death. Consequently, we conducted feeding and preference trials with giant pandas and sloth bears, a termite and ant-feeding specialist. Both giant pandas and sloth bears branched off from the ursid lineage a million or more years before polar bears and brown bears. We found that giant pandas are low-protein, high-carbohydrate omnivores, whereas sloth bears are low-protein, high-fat omnivores. The preference for low protein diets apparently occurred early in the evolution of ursids and may have been critical to their world-wide spread.
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Vallittu PK, Varrela J, Salo J, Rengui L, Shanshan L, Shan H, Zhang H, Niemelä P. Temporomandibular joint and Giant Panda's (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) adaptation to bamboo diet. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14252. [PMID: 34244613 PMCID: PMC8271028 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93808-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we present new evidence that evolutionary adaptation of the Ailuripodinae lineage to bamboo diet has taken place by morphological adaptations in the masticatory system. The giant panda in the wild and in captivity removes without an exception the outer skin of all bamboo shoots, rich in abrasive and toxic compounds, by the highly adapted premolars P3 and P4. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) allows sidewise movement of the jaw and the premolars can, in a cusp-to-cusp position, remove the poorly digestible outer skin of the bamboo before crushing the bamboo with molars. Based on the evidence presented here, we suggest that adaptation of TMJ to lateral movement for enabling cusp-to-cusp contact of premolars is the crucial evolutionary factor as which we consider the key to understand the Ailuropodinae lineage adaptive pathway to utilize the bamboo resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pekka K Vallittu
- Department of Biomaterials Science, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 2, 20520, Turku, Finland. .,City of Turku Welfare Division, Turku, Finland.
| | - Juha Varrela
- City of Turku Welfare Division, Turku, Finland.,Department of Oral Development and Orthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jukka Salo
- Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Li Rengui
- China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China.,Qionglai Mountains Conservation Biology of Endangered Wild Animals and Plants National Permanent Scientific Research Base, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China
| | - Ling Shanshan
- China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China.,Qionglai Mountains Conservation Biology of Endangered Wild Animals and Plants National Permanent Scientific Research Base, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China
| | - Huang Shan
- China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China.,Qionglai Mountains Conservation Biology of Endangered Wild Animals and Plants National Permanent Scientific Research Base, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China
| | - Hemin Zhang
- China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China.,Qionglai Mountains Conservation Biology of Endangered Wild Animals and Plants National Permanent Scientific Research Base, Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China
| | - Pekka Niemelä
- Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Usui K, Tokita M. Creating diversity in mammalian facial morphology: a review of potential developmental mechanisms. EvoDevo 2018; 9:15. [PMID: 29946416 PMCID: PMC6003202 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-018-0103-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammals (class Mammalia) have evolved diverse craniofacial morphology to adapt to a wide range of ecological niches. However, the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying the diversification of mammalian craniofacial morphology remain largely unknown. In this paper, we focus on the facial length and orofacial clefts of mammals and deduce potential mechanisms that produced diversity in mammalian facial morphology. Small-scale changes in facial morphology from the common ancestor, such as slight changes in facial length and the evolution of the midline cleft in some lineages of bats, could be attributed to heterochrony in facial bone ossification. In contrast, large-scale changes of facial morphology from the common ancestor, such as a truncated, widened face as well as the evolution of the bilateral cleft possessed by some bat species, could be brought about by changes in growth and patterning of the facial primordium (the facial processes) at the early stages of embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Usui
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8510 Japan
| | - Masayoshi Tokita
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8510 Japan
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Nanova O, Prôa M, Fitton LC, Evteev A, O’Higgins P. Comparison of cranial performance between mainland and two island subspecies of the Arctic fox Vulpes lagopus (Carnivora: Canidae) during simulated biting. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blx029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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7
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Dumont M, Wall CE, Botton-Divet L, Goswami A, Peigné S, Fabre AC. Do functional demands associated with locomotor habitat, diet, and activity pattern drive skull shape evolution in musteloid carnivorans? Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maïtena Dumont
- UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179; “Mécanismes adaptatifs: des organismes aux communautés”; 55 Rue Buffon 75005 Paris France
| | - Christine E. Wall
- Evolutionary Anthropology; Duke University; Durham NC 27708-0383 USA
| | - Léo Botton-Divet
- UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179; “Mécanismes adaptatifs: des organismes aux communautés”; 55 Rue Buffon 75005 Paris France
| | - Anjali Goswami
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment and Department of Earth Sciences; University College London; Darwin Building 118A Gower Street London WC1E 6BT UK
| | - Stéphane Peigné
- CR2P - UMR 7207 CNRS; MNHN; Univ Paris 06 Paris 75005 France
| | - Anne-Claire Fabre
- Evolutionary Anthropology; Duke University; Durham NC 27708-0383 USA
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8
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Evolutionary trend in dental size in Gigantopithecus blacki revisited. J Hum Evol 2015; 83:91-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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9
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Figueirido B, Tseng ZJ, Martín-Serra A. SKULL SHAPE EVOLUTION IN DUROPHAGOUS CARNIVORANS. Evolution 2013; 67:1975-93. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.12059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Revised: 12/31/2012] [Accepted: 01/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Borja Figueirido
- Departamento de Ecología y Geología de la Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Málaga, 29071-Málaga; Spain
| | - Zhijie Jack Tseng
- Department of Vertebrate Paleontology; Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County; 900 Exposition Boulevard Los Angeles California 90007
| | - Alberto Martín-Serra
- Departamento de Ecología y Geología de la Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad de Málaga, 29071-Málaga; Spain
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Abella J, Alba DM, Robles JM, Valenciano A, Rotgers C, Carmona R, Montoya P, Morales J. Kretzoiarctos gen. nov., the oldest member of the giant panda clade. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48985. [PMID: 23155439 PMCID: PMC3498366 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The phylogenetic position of the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca (Carnivora: Ursidae: Ailuropodinae), has been one of the most hotly debated topics by mammalian biologists and paleontologists during the last century. Based on molecular data, it is currently recognized as a true ursid, sister-taxon of the remaining extant bears, from which it would have diverged by the Early Miocene. However, from a paleobiogeographic and chronological perspective, the origin of the giant panda lineage has remained elusive due to the scarcity of the available Miocene fossil record. Until recently, the genus Ailurarctos from the Late Miocene of China (ca. 8–7 mya) was recognized as the oldest undoubted member of the Ailuropodinae, suggesting that the panda lineage might have originated from an Ursavus ancestor. The role of the purported ailuropodine Agriarctos, from the Miocene of Europe, in the origins of this clade has been generally dismissed due to the paucity of the available material. Here, we describe a new ailuropodine genus, Kretzoiarctos gen. nov., based on remains from two Middle Miocene (ca. 12–11 Ma) Spanish localities. A cladistic analysis of fossil and extant members of the Ursoidea confirms the inclusion of the new genus into the Ailuropodinae. Moreover, Kretzoiarctos precedes in time the previously-known, Late Miocene members of the giant panda clade from Eurasia (Agriarctos and Ailurarctos). The former can be therefore considered the oldest recorded member of the giant panda lineage, which has significant implications for understanding the origins of this clade from a paleobiogeographic viewpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Abella
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-Centro superior de Investigaciones Científicas (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
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COLANGELO PAOLO, LOY ANNA, HUBER DJURO, GOMERČIĆ TOMISLAV, VIGNA TAGLIANTI AUGUSTU, CIUCCI PAOLO. Cranial distinctiveness in the Apennine brown bear: genetic drift effect or ecophenotypic adaptation? Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2012.01926.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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12
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Figueirido B, Serrano-Alarcón FJ, Palmqvist P. Geometric morphometrics shows differences and similarities in skull shape between the red and giant pandas. J Zool (1987) 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00879.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - F. J. Serrano-Alarcón
- Área de Paleontología; Departamento de Ecología y Geología; Facultad de Ciencias, Campus Universitario de Teatinos; Málaga; Spain
| | - P. Palmqvist
- Área de Paleontología; Departamento de Ecología y Geología; Facultad de Ciencias, Campus Universitario de Teatinos; Málaga; Spain
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