1
|
Schwab JA, Figueirido B, Martín-Serra A, van der Hoek J, Flink T, Kort A, Esteban Núñez JM, Jones KE. Evolutionary ecomorphology for the twenty-first century: examples from mammalian carnivores. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231400. [PMID: 38018109 PMCID: PMC10685142 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Carnivores (cats, dogs and kin) are a diverse group of mammals that inhabit a remarkable range of ecological niches. While the relationship between ecology and morphology has long been of interest in carnivorans, the application of quantitative techniques has resulted in a recent explosion of work in the field. Therefore, they provide a case study of how quantitative techniques, such as geometric morphometrics (GMM), have impacted our ability to tease apart complex ecological signals from skeletal anatomy, and the implications for our understanding of the relationships between form, function and ecological specialization. This review provides a synthesis of current research on carnivoran ecomorphology, with the goal of illustrating the complex interaction between ecology and morphology in the skeleton. We explore the ecomorphological diversity across major carnivoran lineages and anatomical systems. We examine cranial elements (skull, sensory systems) and postcranial elements (limbs, vertebral column) to reveal mosaic patterns of adaptation related to feeding and hunting strategies, locomotion and habitat preference. We highlight the crucial role that new approaches have played in advancing our understanding of carnivoran ecomorphology, while addressing challenges that remain in the field, such as ecological classifications, form-function relationships and multi-element analysis, offering new avenues for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia A. Schwab
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, M13 9PL Manchester, UK
| | - Borja Figueirido
- Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Alberto Martín-Serra
- Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Julien van der Hoek
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, M13 9PL Manchester, UK
| | - Therese Flink
- Department of Palaeobiology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 50007, 10405 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anne Kort
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Indiana University Bloomington, 1001 E 10th St, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 1100 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Katrina E. Jones
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, M13 9PL Manchester, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Assessing Asiatic cheetah’s individual diet using metabarcoding and its implication for conservation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11403. [PMID: 35794196 PMCID: PMC9259742 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15065-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractKnowledge on diet composition allows defining well-targeted conservation measures of large carnivores. Little is known about ecology of critically endangered Asiatic cheetah, especially the overall diet and its possible regional differences. We used cheetah scats, metabarcoding technique and microsatellite markers to assess the individual and overall diet composition of the species across its entire range in Asia. Cheetahs were primarily predating on mouflon; following by ibex, cape hare and goitered gazelle. Despite their high availability, small-sized livestock was never detected. Goitered gazelles were only detected in an area where the habitat is mainly flatlands. In hilly areas, mouflon was the most frequent prey item taken. Ibex was typically taken in rugged terrain, but mouflon was still the most frequently consumed item in these habitats. High consumption of mouflon in comparison to goitered gazelle suggests that human pressure on lowland habitats has possibly forced Asiatic cheetahs to occupy suboptimal habitats where gazelles are less abundant. The protection of flatlands and the removal of livestock from them are needed to ensure the long-term survival of Asiatic cheetah. The laboratory and bioinformatics pipelines used in this study are replicable and can be used to address similar questions in other threatened carnivores.
Collapse
|
3
|
Kamimura T, Sato K, Aoi S, Higurashi Y, Wada N, Tsuchiya K, Sano A, Matsuno F. Three Characteristics of Cheetah Galloping Improve Running Performance Through Spinal Movement: A Modeling Study. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:825638. [PMID: 35497345 PMCID: PMC9049215 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.825638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cheetahs are the fastest land animal. Their galloping shows three characteristics: small vertical movement of their center of mass, small whole-body pitching movement, and large spine bending movement. We hypothesize that these characteristics lead to enhanced gait performance in cheetahs, including higher gait speed. In this study, we used a simple model with a spine joint and torsional spring, which emulate the body flexibility, to verify our hypothesis from a dynamic perspective. Specifically, we numerically searched periodic solutions and evaluated what extent each solution shows the three characteristics. We then evaluated the gait performance and found that the solutions with the characteristics achieve high performances. This result supports our hypothesis. Furthermore, we revealed the mechanism for the high performances through the dynamics of the spine movement. These findings extend the current understanding of the dynamic mechanisms underlying high-speed locomotion in cheetahs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Kamimura
- Department of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Aichi, Japan
- *Correspondence: Tomoya Kamimura, ; Shinya Aoi,
| | - Kaho Sato
- Department of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shinya Aoi
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- *Correspondence: Tomoya Kamimura, ; Shinya Aoi,
| | - Yasuo Higurashi
- Laboratory of System Physiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Naomi Wada
- Laboratory of System Physiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Kazuo Tsuchiya
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akihito Sano
- Department of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Aichi, Japan
| | - Fumitoshi Matsuno
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
OUP accepted manuscript. J Mammal 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
|
5
|
Shield S, Jericevich R, Patel A, Jusufi A. Tails, Flails, and Sails: How Appendages Improve Terrestrial Maneuverability by Improving Stability. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:506-520. [PMID: 34050735 PMCID: PMC8633431 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Trade-offs in maneuverability and stability are essential in ecologically relevant situations with respect to robustness of locomotion, with multiple strategies apparent in animal model systems depending on their habitat and ecology. Free appendages such as tails and ungrounded limbs may assist in navigating this trade-off by assisting with balance, thereby increasing the acceleration that can be achieved without destabilizing the body. This comparative analysis explores the inertial mechanisms and, in some cases, fluid dynamic mechanisms by which appendages contribute to the stabilization of gait and perturbation response behaviors in a wide variety of animals. Following a broad review of examples from nature and bio-inspired robotics that illustrate the importance of appendages to the control of body orientation, two specific cases are examined through preliminary experiments: the role of arm motion in bipedal gait termination is explored using trajectory optimization, and the role of the cheetah’s tail during a deceleration maneuver is analyzed based on motion capture data. In both these examples, forward rotation of the appendage in question is found to counteract the unwanted forward pitch caused by the braking forces. It is theorized that this stabilizing action may facilitate more rapid deceleration by allowing larger or longer-acting braking forces to be applied safely.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stacey Shield
- African Robotics Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Amir Patel
- African Robotics Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ardian Jusufi
- African Robotics Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa.,Locomotion in Biorobotic and Somatic Systems, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Urciuoli A, Zanolli C, Beaudet A, Pina M, Almécija S, Moyà-Solà S, Alba DM. A comparative analysis of the vestibular apparatus in Epipliopithecus vindobonensis: Phylogenetic implications. J Hum Evol 2021; 151:102930. [PMID: 33422741 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Pliopithecoids are an extinct group of catarrhine primates from the Miocene of Eurasia. More than 50 years ago, they were linked to hylobatids due to some morphological similarities, but most subsequent studies have supported a stem catarrhine status, due to the retention of multiple plesiomorphic features (e.g., the ectotympanic morphology) relative to crown catarrhines. More recently, some morphological similarities to hominoids have been noted, raising the question of whether they could be stem members of this clade. To re-evaluate these competing hypotheses, we examine the morphology of the semicircular canals of the bony labyrinth of the middle Miocene pliopithecid Epipliopithecus vindobonensis. The semicircular canals are suitable to test between these hypotheses because (1) they have been shown to embed strong phylogenetic signal and reliably discriminate among major clades; (2) several potential hominoid synapomorphies have been identified previously in the semicircular canals; and (3) semicircular canal morphology has not been previously described for any pliopithecoid. We use a deformation-based (landmark-free) three-dimensional geometric morphometric approach to compare Epipliopithecus with a broad primate sample of extant and extinct anthropoids. We quantify similarities in semicircular canal morphology using multivariate analyses, reconstruct ancestral morphotypes by means of a phylomorphospace approach, and identify catarrhine and hominoid synapomorphies based on discrete characters. Epipliopithecus semicircular canal morphology most closely resembles that of platyrrhines and Aegyptopithecus due to the retention of multiple anthropoid symplesiomorphies. However, Epipliopithecus is most parsimoniously interpreted as a stem catarrhine more derived than Aegyptopithecus due to the possession of a crown catarrhine synapomorphy (i.e., the rounded anterior canal), combined with the lack of other catarrhine and any hominoid synapomorphies. Some similarities with hylobatids and atelids are interpreted as homoplasies likely related to positional behavior. The semicircular canal morphology of Epipliopithecus thus supports the common view that pliopithecoids are stem catarrhines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Urciuoli
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, c/ Columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Clément Zanolli
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, MCC, PACEA, UMR 5199, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Amélie Beaudet
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, c/ Columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg, WITS 2050, South Africa; Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria, PO Box 2034, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Marta Pina
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, c/ Columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Manchester, 176 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Sergio Almécija
- Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79(th) Street, New York, NY 10024, USA; New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA; Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, c/ Columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Moyà-Solà
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, c/ Columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig de Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain; Unitat d'Antropologia (Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus de la UAB s/n, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David M Alba
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici ICTA-ICP, c/ Columnes s/n, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Stanchak KE, French C, Perkel DJ, Brunton BW. The Balance Hypothesis for the Avian Lumbosacral Organ and an Exploration of Its Morphological Variation. Integr Org Biol 2020; 2:obaa024. [PMID: 33791565 PMCID: PMC7751001 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obaa024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds (Aves) exhibit exceptional and diverse locomotor behaviors, including the exquisite ability to balance on two feet. How birds so precisely control their movements may be partly explained by a set of intriguing modifications in their lower spine. These modifications are collectively known as the lumbosacral organ (LSO) and are found in the fused lumbosacral vertebrae called the synsacrum. They include a set of transverse canal-like recesses in the synsacrum that align with lateral lobes of the spinal cord, as well as a dorsal groove in the spinal cord that houses an egg-shaped glycogen body. Based on compelling but primarily observational data, the most recent functional hypotheses for the LSO consider it to be a secondary balance organ, in which the transverse canals are analogous to the semicircular canals of the inner ear. If correct, this hypothesis would reshape our understanding of avian locomotion, yet the LSO has been largely overlooked in the recent literature. Here, we review the current evidence for this hypothesis and then explore a possible relationship between the LSO and balance-intensive locomotor ecologies. Our comparative morphological dataset consists of micro-computed tomography (μ-CT) scans of synsacra from ecologically diverse species. We find that birds that perch tend to have more prominent transverse canals, suggesting that the LSO is useful for balance-intensive behaviors. We then identify the crucial outstanding questions about LSO structure and function. The LSO may be a key innovation that allows independent but coordinated motion of the head and the body, and a full understanding of its function and evolution will require multiple interdisciplinary research efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K E Stanchak
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - C French
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - D J Perkel
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - B W Brunton
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Nguyen VT, Uchida R, Warling A, Sloan LJ, Saviano MS, Wicinski B, Hård T, Bertelsen MF, Stimpson CD, Bitterman K, Schall M, Hof PR, Sherwood CC, Manger PR, Spocter MA, Jacobs B. Comparative neocortical neuromorphology in felids: African lion, African leopard, and cheetah. J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:1392-1422. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vivian T. Nguyen
- Laboratory of Quantitative Neuromorphology, Neuroscience Program, Department of PsychologyColorado College Colorado Springs Colorado
| | - Riri Uchida
- Laboratory of Quantitative Neuromorphology, Neuroscience Program, Department of PsychologyColorado College Colorado Springs Colorado
| | - Allysa Warling
- Laboratory of Quantitative Neuromorphology, Neuroscience Program, Department of PsychologyColorado College Colorado Springs Colorado
| | - Lucy J. Sloan
- Laboratory of Quantitative Neuromorphology, Neuroscience Program, Department of PsychologyColorado College Colorado Springs Colorado
| | - Mark S. Saviano
- Laboratory of Quantitative Neuromorphology, Neuroscience Program, Department of PsychologyColorado College Colorado Springs Colorado
| | - Bridget Wicinski
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York New York
| | | | - Mads F. Bertelsen
- Center for Zoo and Wild Animal HealthCopenhagen Zoo Frederiksberg Denmark
| | - Cheryl D. Stimpson
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human PaleobiologyThe George Washington University Washington District of Columbia
| | - Kathleen Bitterman
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Matthew Schall
- Laboratory of Quantitative Neuromorphology, Neuroscience Program, Department of PsychologyColorado College Colorado Springs Colorado
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain InstituteIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York New York
| | - Chet C. Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human PaleobiologyThe George Washington University Washington District of Columbia
| | - Paul R. Manger
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Muhammad A. Spocter
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa
- Department of AnatomyDes Moines University Des Moines Iowa
| | - Bob Jacobs
- Laboratory of Quantitative Neuromorphology, Neuroscience Program, Department of PsychologyColorado College Colorado Springs Colorado
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Cerio DG, Witmer LM. Intraspecific variation and symmetry of the inner-ear labyrinth in a population of wild turkeys: implications for paleontological reconstructions. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7355. [PMID: 31372322 PMCID: PMC6659666 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The cochlea and semicircular canals (SCCs) of the inner ear are vital neurosensory devices. There are associations between the anatomy of these sensorineural structures, their function, and the function of related biological systems, for example, hearing ability, gaze stabilization, locomotor agility, and posture. The endosseous labyrinth is frequently used as a proxy to infer the performance of the hearing and vestibular systems, locomotor abilities, and ecology of extinct species. Such fossil inferences are often based on single specimens or even a single ear, representing an entire species. To address whether a single ear is representative of a population, we used geometric morphometrics to quantitatively assess the variation in shape and symmetry in a sample of endosseous labyrinths of wild turkeys Meleagris gallopavo of southern Ohio. We predicted that ears would be symmetrical both within individuals and across the sample; that labyrinth shape and size would covary; that labyrinth shape would vary with the size of the brain, measured as width of the endocranium at the cerebellum; and that labyrinths would be morphologically integrated. To test these predictions, we microCT-scanned the heads of 26 cadaveric turkeys, digitally segmented their endosseous labyrinths in Avizo, and assigned 15 manual landmarks and 20 sliding semilandmarks to each digital model. Following Procrustes alignment, we conducted an analysis of bilateral symmetry, a Procrustes regression analysis for allometry and other covariates including side and replicate, and analyses of global integration and modularity. Based on Procrustes distances, no individual’s left and right ears were clearly different from each other. When comparing the ears of different specimens, statistically clear differences in shape were found in only 66 of more than 1,300 contrasts. Moreover, effects of both directional and fluctuating asymmetry were very small—generally, two orders of magnitude smaller than the variance explained by individual variation. Statistical tests disagreed on whether these asymmetric effects crossed the threshold of significance, possibly due to non-isotropic variation among landmarks. Regardless, labyrinths appeared to primarily vary in shape symmetrically. Neither labyrinth size nor endocranial width was correlated with labyrinth shape, contrary to our expectations. Finally, labyrinths were found to be moderately integrated in a global sense, but four weakly separated modules—the three SCCs and cochlea—were recovered using a maximum-likelihood analysis. The results show that both fluctuating and directional asymmetry play a larger role in shape variation than expected—but nonetheless, endosseous labyrinths are symmetrical within individuals and at the level of the population, and their shape varies symmetrically. Thus, inferences about populations, and very possibly species, may be confidently made when only a single specimen, or even a single ear, is available for study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donald G Cerio
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Lawrence M Witmer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Vasilopoulou-Kampitsi M, Goyens J, Van Damme R, Aerts P. The ecological signal on the shape of the lacertid vestibular system: simple versus complex microhabitats. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M Vasilopoulou-Kampitsi
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - J Goyens
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - R Van Damme
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - P Aerts
- Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Schwab JA, Kriwet J, Weber GW, Pfaff C. Carnivoran hunting style and phylogeny reflected in bony labyrinth morphometry. Sci Rep 2019; 9:70. [PMID: 30635617 PMCID: PMC6329752 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37106-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Carnivorans are a highly diverse and successful group of mammals, found on the top of the food chain. They originated in the Palaeocene (ca. 60 Ma) and have developed numerous lifestyles, locomotion modes and hunting strategies during their evolutionary history. Mechanosensory organs, such as the inner ear (which houses senses of equilibrium and hearing), represent informative anatomical systems to obtain insights into function, ecology and phylogeny of extant and extinct vertebrates. Using µCT scans, we examined bony labyrinths of a broad sample of various carnivoran species, to obtain new information about hunting behaviours of ancient carnivorans. Bony labyrinths were digitally reconstructed and measurements were taken directly from these 3D models. Principal component analyses generally separated various hunting strategies (pursuit, pounce, ambush and occasional), but also support their phylogenetic relationships (Canoidea vs. Feloidea). The height, width and length of all three semicircular canals show functional morphological adaptations, whereas the diameter of the canals, the height of the cochlea and particularly the angle between the lateral semicircular canal and the cochlea indicate a phylogenetic signal. The results demonstrate that the bony labyrinth provides a powerful ecological proxy reflecting both predatory habits as well as phylogenetic relationships in extinct and extant carnivorans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Schwab
- Department of Palaeontology, Faculty of Earth Science, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Geozentrum, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria. .,School of GeoSciences, Grant Institute, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, James Hutton Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JW, UK.
| | - Jürgen Kriwet
- Department of Palaeontology, Faculty of Earth Science, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Geozentrum, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard W Weber
- Department of Anthropology & Core Facility for Micro-Computed Tomography, Faculty of Life Science, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cathrin Pfaff
- Department of Palaeontology, Faculty of Earth Science, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Geozentrum, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Synchrotron radiation reveals the identity of the large felid from Monte Argentario (Early Pleistocene, Italy). Sci Rep 2018; 8:8338. [PMID: 29844540 PMCID: PMC5974229 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26698-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe here a partial skull with associated mandible of a large felid from Monte Argentario, Italy (Early Pleistocene; ~1.5 million years). Propagation x-ray phase-contrast synchrotron microtomography of the specimen, still partially embedded in the rock matrix, allows ascribing it reliably to Acinonyx pardinensis, one of the most intriguing extinct carnivorans of the Old World Plio-Pleistocene. The analysis of images and 3D models obtained through synchrotron microtomography – here applied for the first time on a Plio-Pleistocene carnivoran – reveals a mosaic of cheetah-like and Panthera-like features, with the latter justifying previous attributions of the fossil to the extinct Eurasian jaguar Panthera gombaszoegensis. Similarly, we reassign to A. pardinensis some other Italian materials previously referred to P. gombaszoegensis (sites of Pietrafitta and Ellera di Corciano). The recognition of Panthera-like characters in A. pardinensis leads to reconsidering the ecological role of this species, whose hunting strategy was likely to be different from those of the living cheetah. Furthermore, we hypothesise that the high intraspecific variation in body size in A. pardinensis can be the result of sexual dimorphism, as observed today in all large-sized felids.
Collapse
|
13
|
The bony labyrinth of toothed whales reflects both phylogeny and habitat preferences. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7841. [PMID: 29777194 PMCID: PMC5959912 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26094-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The inner ear of toothed whales (odontocetes) is known to have evolved particular shapes related to their abilities to echolocate and move under water. While the origin of these capacities is now more and more examined, thanks to new imaging techniques, little is still known about how informative inner ear shape could be to tackle phylogenetic issues or questions pertaining to the habitat preferences of extinct species. Here we show that the shape of the bony labyrinth of toothed whales provides key information both about phylogeny and habitat preferences (freshwater versus coastal and fully marine habitats). Our investigation of more than 20 species of extinct and modern odontocetes shows that the semi-circular canals are not very informative, in contrast to baleen whales, while the cochlea alone bears a strong signal. Inner ear shape thus provides a novel source of information to distinguish between morphologically convergent lineages (e.g. river dolphins).
Collapse
|