1
|
Smith HF, Rocco FA, Felix MA, Valdez D, Lynch LM. African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) masticatory apparatus and oral cavity morphology. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024. [PMID: 39096176 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25547] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) are unique among canids in their specialized hunting strategies and social organization. Unlike other, more omnivorous canids, L. pictus is a hypercarnivore that consumes almost exclusively meat, particularly prey larger than its body size, which it hunts through cooperative, exhaustive predation tactics. Its bite force is also among the highest reported for carnivorans. Here, we dissected an adult male L. pictus specimen and conducted diffusion iodine contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT) scans to evaluate and describe its masticatory and oral cavity musculature. Muscles of mastication in L. pictus are separated by deep layers of thick intermuscular fascia and deep insertions. The superficial surface of m. masseter is entirely covered by an extremely thick masseteric fascia. Deep to m. masseter pars reflexa and superficialis are additional bellies, m. masseter pars profunda and zygomaticomandibularis. Musculus temporalis in L. pictus, divides into suprazygomatic, superficial, and deep bellies separated by a deep layer of thick intermuscular fascia, and it inserts along the entire rostral margin of the mandibular ramus. Musculus digastricus appears to comprise a single, large fusiform belly which appears to receive its innervation exclusively from CN V3 (nervus mandibularis, division of nervus trigeminus). Musculus pterygoideus medialis and lateralis are each composed of a single, deep belly. However, despite its great bite force, the jaw adductor muscle mass in L. pictus is not increased for its body size over other canid taxa. This finding suggests there are other architectural adaptations to hypercarnivory beyond increased muscle volume (e.g., pennation angle, greater strength, optimization of lever arms for mechanical advantage).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heather F Smith
- Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, USA
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Felicia A Rocco
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, USA
| | - Mia A Felix
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, USA
| | - Dominik Valdez
- Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, USA
| | - Leigha M Lynch
- Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Różycka K, Skibniewska E, Rajkowski Ł, Skibniewski M. Craniometric Characteristics of Selected Carnivora Species Kept in Captivity in Relation to Bite Force and Bending Strength of the Upper Canines. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1367. [PMID: 38731371 PMCID: PMC11083096 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091367] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyse the bite forces of seven species from three carnivore families: Canidae, Felidae, and Ursidae. The material consisted of complete, dry crania and mandibles. A total of 33 measurements were taken on each skull, mandible, temporomandibular joint, and teeth. The area of the temporalis and masseter muscles was calculated, as was the length of the arms of the forces acting on them. Based on the results, the bite force was calculated using a mathematical lever model. This study compared the estimated areas of the masticatory muscles and the bending strength of the upper canines among seven species. A strong correlation was found between cranial size and bite force. The results confirmed the hypothesis that the weight of the animal and the size of the skull have a significant effect on the bite force.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Różycka
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159C, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Ewa Skibniewska
- Department of Biology of Animal Environment, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Łukasz Rajkowski
- Mathematical Statistics at the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Mechanics, University of Warsaw, ul. Banacha 2, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Michał Skibniewski
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159C, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pahl CC, Ruedas LA. Big boned: How fat storage and other adaptations influenced large theropod foraging ecology. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290459. [PMID: 37910492 PMCID: PMC10619836 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Dinosaur foraging ecology has been the subject of scientific interest for decades, yet much of what we understand about it remains hypothetical. We wrote an agent-based model (ABM) to simulate meat energy sources present in dinosaur environments, including carcasses of giant sauropods, along with living, huntable prey. Theropod dinosaurs modeled in this environment (specifically allosauroids, and more particularly, Allosaurus Marsh, 1877) were instantiated with heritable traits favorable to either hunting success or scavenging success. If hunter phenotypes were more reproductively successful, their traits were propagated into the population through their offspring, resulting in predator specialists. If selective pressure favored scavenger phenotypes, the population would evolve to acquire most of their calories from carrion. Data generated from this model strongly suggest that theropods in sauropod-dominated systems evolved to detect carcasses, consume and store large quantities of fat, and dominate carcass sites. Broadly speaking, selective forces did not favor predatory adaptations, because sauropod carrion resource pools, as we modeled them, were too profitable for prey-based resource pools to be significant. This is the first research to test selective pressure patterns in dinosaurs, and the first to estimate theropod mass based on metabolic constraints.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cameron C. Pahl
- Department of Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Biology, Science Research and Teaching Center—246, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Luis A. Ruedas
- Department of Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Biology, Science Research and Teaching Center—246, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ruiz JV, Ferreira GS, Lautenschlager S, de Castro MC, Montefeltro FC. Different, but the same: Inferring the hunting behaviour of the hypercarnivorous bush dog (Speothos venaticus) through finite element analysis. J Anat 2023; 242:553-567. [PMID: 36485003 PMCID: PMC10008295 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13804] [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: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerdocyonina is a clade composed by the South-American canids in which the bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is one of the most elusive species. Known for its unique morphology within the group, this small, bear-like faced canid is the only member of the clade adapted to hypercarnivory, an almost exclusively meat-based diet currently present only in usually large, pack-hunting canids such as the grey wolf (Canis lupus). However, much of the biology of the bush dog is poorly understood, and inferences about its ecology, hunting strategies and diet are usually based on observation of captive individuals and anecdotal records, with reduced quantitative data to offer support. Here, we investigated the craniomandibular functional morphology of the bush dog through finite element analysis (FEA). FEA was employed to model the biting behaviour and to create extrinsic and intrinsic functional scenarios with different loads, corresponding to different bites used to subdue and process the prey. For comparison, the same modelling was applied to the skull of a grey wolf and a grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Our analysis showed that the bush dog's responses to loading are more similar to the wolf's than to the fox's in most scenarios, suggesting a convergent craniomandibular functional morphology between these two hypercarnivorous species, despite their distinct phylogenetic positions and body sizes. Differences between the three taxa are noteworthy and suggested to be related to the size of the usual prey. The modelled bite force for the bush dog is relatively strong, about half of that estimated for the wolf and about 40% stronger than the fox's bite. The results strengthen with quantitative data the inferences of the bush dog as a pack-hunting predator with prey size similar to its own, such as large rodents and armadillos, being specialised in subduing and killing its prey using multiple bites. Its similarity to the wolf also confirms anecdotal accounts of predation on mammals that are much larger than itself, such as peccaries and tapirs. These data highlight the ecological specialisation of this small canid in a continent where large, pack-hunting canids are absent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan V Ruiz
- Laboratório de Paleontologia e Evolução de Ilha Solteira, UNESP, Ilha Solteira, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade, UNESP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.,Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gabriel S Ferreira
- Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stephan Lautenschlager
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Mariela C de Castro
- Laboratório de Biologia Integrativa e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Catalão, Catalão, Brazil
| | - Felipe C Montefeltro
- Laboratório de Paleontologia e Evolução de Ilha Solteira, UNESP, Ilha Solteira, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
The impact of environmental factors on the evolution of brain size in carnivorans. Commun Biol 2022; 5:998. [PMID: 36130990 PMCID: PMC9492690 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03748-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The reasons why some animals have developed larger brains has long been a subject of debate. Yet, it remains unclear which selective pressures may favour the encephalization and how it may act during evolution at different taxonomic scales. Here we studied the patterns and tempo of brain evolution within the order Carnivora and present large-scale comparative analysis of the effect of ecological, environmental, social, and physiological variables on relative brain size in a sample of 174 extant carnivoran species. We found a complex pattern of brain size change between carnivoran families with differences in both the rate and diversity of encephalization. Our findings suggest that during carnivorans’ evolution, a trade-off have occurred between the cognitive advantages of acquiring a relatively large brain allowing to adapt to specific environments, and the metabolic costs of the brain which may constitute a disadvantage when facing the need to colonize new environments. The brain size of carnivores has evolved to balance a trade-off between increased cognitive function and increased metabolic cost.
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
The reasons why some animals have developed larger brains has long been a subject of debate. Yet, it remains unclear which selective pressures may favour the encephalization and how it may act during evolution at different taxonomic scales. Here we studied the patterns and tempo of brain evolution within the order Carnivora and present large-scale comparative analysis of the effect of ecological, environmental, social, and physiological variables on relative brain size in a sample of 174 extant carnivoran species. We found a complex pattern of brain size change between carnivoran families with differences in both the rate and diversity of encephalization. Our findings suggest that during carnivorans' evolution, a trade-off have occurred between the cognitive advantages of acquiring a relatively large brain allowing to adapt to specific environments, and the metabolic costs of the brain which may constitute a disadvantage when facing the need to colonize new environments.
Collapse
|
7
|
Harano T, Asahara M. Correlated evolution of craniodental morphology and feeding ecology in carnivorans: a comparative analysis of jaw lever arms at tooth positions. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. Harano
- Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences Aichi Gakuin University Nisshin Japan
| | - M. Asahara
- Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences Aichi Gakuin University Nisshin Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kraus A, Lövy M, Mikula O, Okrouhlík J, Bennett NC, Herrel A, Šumbera R. Bite force in the strictly subterranean rodent family of African mole‐rats (Bathyergidae): the role of digging mode, social organisation, and ecology. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Kraus
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Matěj Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Mikula
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences Brno Czech Republic
| | - Jan Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Nigel C. Bennett
- Department of Zoology and Entomology Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département Adaptations du Vivant UMR 7179 MECADEV C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N., Bâtiment d’Anatomie Comparée Paris France
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Siciliano-Martina L, Michaud M, Tanis BP, Scicluna EL, Lawing AM. Endocranial volume increases across captive generations in the endangered Mexican wolf. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8147. [PMID: 35581330 PMCID: PMC9114419 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12371-6] [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: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Endangered animals in captivity may display reduced brain sizes due to captive conditions and limited genetic diversity. Captive diets, for example, may differ in nutrition and texture, altering cranial musculature and alleviating constraints on cranial shape development. Changes in brain size are associated with biological fitness, which may limit reintroduction success. Little is known about how changes in brain size progress in highly managed carnivoran populations and whether such traits are retained among reintroduced populations. Here, we measured the endocranial volume of preserved Mexican wolf skulls across captive generations and between captive, wild, and reintroduced populations and assessed endocranial volume dependence on inbreeding and cranial musculature. Endocranial volume increased across captive generations. However, we did not detect a difference among captive, wild, and reintroduced groups, perhaps due to the variability across captive generations. We did not find a relationship between endocranial volume and either inbreeding or cranial musculature, although the captive population displayed an increase in the cross-sectional area of the masseter muscle. We hypothesize that the increase in endocranial volume observed across captive generations may be related to the high-quality nutrition provided in captivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leila Siciliano-Martina
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, 154 Supple Science Building, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA. .,Interdisciplinary Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
| | - Margot Michaud
- Department of African Zoology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Brian P Tanis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University-Cascades, Bend, OR, USA
| | - Emily L Scicluna
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - A Michelle Lawing
- Interdisciplinary Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.,Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mahdy MAA, Mohamed WF. Comparative craniometric measurements of two Canid species in Egypt: the Egyptian red fox and the Egyptian Baladi dog. BMC Vet Res 2022; 18:173. [PMID: 35549953 PMCID: PMC9097113 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03275-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Egyptian red fox (Vulpes vulpes aegyptiaca) and Egyptian Baladi dog (Canis familiaris) are two members of the Family Canidae that are widely distributed in Egypt. The skulls of different Canid species vary greatly in their size and shape; therefore, they can be used as a tool to study the evolution and evolutionary history of these animals. The craniometric measurements are crucial for species identification and determination of the specific sites for nerve blocks. The present study compared the craniometric measurements of the red fox and Baladi dog skulls by measuring 47 parameters on each skull and calculation of 8 indices. The red fox skull had significantly lower values of 41 craniometric measurements (approximately 87% of the measurements done), including skull length, width, and height, cranial length and width, palatal and mandibular length, and dental measurements. In contrast, the red fox had significantly higher values of only 3 measurements (approximately 6% of the measurements done) including the tympanic bulla measurement. While only three skull measurements did not differ significantly between the red fox and dog. Statistics revealed that domestic dog had significantly higher values of foramen magnum and palatine indices, and significantly lower value of nasal index than those of red fox. The present work reported variations in the gross and craniometric measurements of skull between the red fox and dog. The measured cranial parameters of both adult animals provide valuable information that can be used in ecological studies, comparative anatomy, and clinical veterinary sciences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A A Mahdy
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt.
| | - Walid Fathy Mohamed
- Department of Biological and Geological Sciences, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Roxy, Cairo, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Savvidou A, Youlatos D, Spassov N, Tamvakis A, Kostopoulos DS. Ecomorphology of the Early Pleistocene Badger Meles dimitrius from Greece. J MAMM EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-022-09609-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
12
|
Kemenszky P, Jánoska F, Nagy G, Csivincsik Á. The golden jackal (Canis aureus) and the African swine fever pandemic: Its role is controversial but not negligible (a diet analysis study). Vet Med Sci 2021; 8:97-103. [PMID: 34558210 PMCID: PMC8788993 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Europe, the African swine fever (ASF) pandemic mostly affects the environmental domain of health, which is a strongly human‐impacted ecosystem. However, the current control strategies focus solely on the wild boar and tend to disregard other epidemiologically relevant elements of the ecosystem. Objectives This study investigated the potential impact of the golden jackal on the surveillance effort and disease transmission. Methods For this reason, the authors analysed the content of 277 stomachs of this canid species within its westernmost inhabitant population, in order to determine the amount of suid remains, disposed. Results The findings confirmed that in a densely populated wild boar habitat, the main diet component of jackals was wild boar all the year round. The jackals disposed of 0.3–0.6 kg/km2/day offals that potentially contained suid remains. On the other hand, the scavenging activity removed the most important target objects on which the passive surveillance of ASF should be based. Conclusions This study cannot determine whether canid scavengers positively or negatively influence the control efforts; however, the impact of the jackal should not be disregarded. The results warn the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach to complex epidemiological situations within different ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Péter Kemenszky
- Roth Gyula Doctoral School of Forestry and Wildlife Management Sciences, University of Sopron, Sopron, Hungary.,Somogy County Hunters' Association, Hungarian Hunters' National Chamber, Kaposvár, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Jánoska
- Institute of Vertebrate Zoology and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of Sopron, Sopron, Hungary
| | - Gábor Nagy
- One Health Working Group, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kaposvár, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Csivincsik
- One Health Working Group, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kaposvár, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hartstone-Rose A, Dickinson E, Deutsch AR, Worden N, Hirschkorn GA. Masticatory muscle architectural correlates of dietary diversity in Canidae, Ursidae, and across the order Carnivora. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 305:477-497. [PMID: 34449131 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Carnivorans represent extreme ecomorphological diversity, encompassing remarkable variation in form, habitat, and diet. The relationship between the masticatory musculature and dietary ecology has been explored in a number of carnivoran lineages, including felids and the superfamily Musteloidea. In this study, we present novel architectural data on two additional carnivoran families-Ursidae and Canidae-and supplement these previous studies with additional felid, musteloid, herpestid, hyaenid, and viverrid taxa (a total of 53 species across 10 families). Gross dissection data were collected following a standardized protocol-sharp dissection followed by chemical digestion. Summed jaw adductor forces were also transformed into bite force estimates (BF) using osteologically calculated leverages. All data were linearized, log-transformed, and size-adjusted using two proxies for each taxon-body mass (BM) and cranial geometric mean-to assess relative scaling trends. These architectural data were then analyzed in the context of dietary ecology to examine the impact of dietary size (DS) and dietary mechanical properties (DMP). Muscle mass, physiological cross-sectional area, and BF scaled with isometry or positive allometry in all cases, whereas fascicle lengths (FLs) scaled with isometry or negative allometry. With respect to diet, BM-adjusted FLs were strongly correlated with DS in musteloids, but not in any other lineage. The relationship between size-adjusted BF and DMP was also significant within musteloids, and across the sample as a whole, but not within other individual lineages. This interfamilial trend may reflect the increased morphological and dietary diversity of musteloids relative to other carnivoran groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Hartstone-Rose
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Edwin Dickinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ashley R Deutsch
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nikole Worden
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gabrielle A Hirschkorn
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Tamagnini D, Meloro C, Raia P, Maiorano L. Testing the occurrence of convergence in the craniomandibular shape evolution of living carnivorans. Evolution 2021; 75:1738-1752. [PMID: 33844288 PMCID: PMC8359831 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Convergence consists in the independent evolution of similar traits in distantly related species. The mammalian craniomandibular complex constitutes an ideal biological structure to investigate ecomorphological dynamics and the carnivorans, due to their phenotypic variability and ecological flexibility, offer an interesting case study to explore the occurrence of convergent evolution. Here, we applied multiple pattern‐based metrics to test the occurrence of convergence in the craniomandibular shape of extant carnivorans. To this aim, we tested for convergence in many dietary groups and analyzed several cases of carnivoran convergence concerning either ecologically equivalent species or ecologically similar species of different body sizes described in the literature. Our results validate the occurrence of convergence in ecologically equivalent species in a few cases (as well as in the case of giant and red pandas), but almost never support the occurrence of convergent evolution in dietary categories of living carnivorans. Therefore, convergent evolution in this clade appears to be a rare phenomenon. This is probably the consequence of a complex interplay of one‐to‐many, many‐to‐one, and many‐to‐many relationships taking place between ecology, biomechanics, and morphology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Tamagnini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin,", University of Rome "La Sapienza,", Rome, 00185, Italy.,Museum of Zoology, Sapienza Museum Centre, University of Rome "La Sapienza,", Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Carlo Meloro
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, United Kingdom
| | - Pasquale Raia
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e delle Risorse, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, 80126, Italy
| | - Luigi Maiorano
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin,", University of Rome "La Sapienza,", Rome, 00185, Italy.,Museum of Zoology, Sapienza Museum Centre, University of Rome "La Sapienza,", Rome, 00185, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Siciliano-Martina L, Light JE, Lawing AM. Cranial morphology of captive mammals: a meta-analysis. Front Zool 2021; 18:4. [PMID: 33485360 PMCID: PMC7825229 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-021-00386-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Captive facilities such as zoos are uniquely instrumental in conservation efforts. To fulfill their potential as bastions for conservation, zoos must preserve captive populations as appropriate proxies for their wild conspecifics; doing so will help to promote successful reintroduction efforts. Morphological changes within captive populations may be detrimental to the fitness of individual animals because these changes can influence functionality; thus, it is imperative to understand the breadth and depth of morphological changes occurring in captive populations. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis of scientific literature reporting comparisons of cranial measures between captive and wild populations of mammals. We investigate the pervasiveness of cranial differences and whether cranial morphological changes are associated with ecological covariates specific to individual species, such as trophic level, dietary breadth, and home range size. RESULTS Cranial measures of skull length, skull width, and the ratio of skull length-to-width differed significantly between many captive and wild populations of mammals reported in the literature. Roughly half of captive populations differed from wild populations in at least one cranial measure, although the degree of changes varied. Carnivorous species with a limited dietary breadth displayed the most consistent changes associated with skull widening. Species with a more generalized diet displayed less morphological changes in captivity. CONCLUSIONS Wild and captive populations of mammals differed in cranial morphology, but the nature and magnitude of their cranial differences varied considerably across taxa. Although changes in cranial morphology occur in captivity, specific changes cannot be generalized for all captive mammal populations. The nature of cranial changes in captivity may be specific to particular taxonomic groups; thus, it may be possible to establish expectations across smaller taxonomic units, or even disparate groups that utilize their cranial morphology in a similar way. Given that morphological changes occurring in captive environments like zoos have the potential to limit reintroduction success, our results call for a critical evaluation of current captive husbandry practices to prevent unnecessary morphological changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leila Siciliano-Martina
- Interdisciplinary Program in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
| | - Jessica E Light
- Interdisciplinary Program in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - A Michelle Lawing
- Interdisciplinary Program in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
|
17
|
Bite Force in Four Pinniped Species from the West Coast of Baja California, Mexico, in Relation to Diet, Feeding Strategy, and Niche Differentiation. J MAMM EVOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-020-09524-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
18
|
MacLeod N, Kolska Horwitz L. Machine-learning strategies for testing patterns of morphological variation in small samples: sexual dimorphism in gray wolf (Canis lupus) crania. BMC Biol 2020; 18:113. [PMID: 32883273 PMCID: PMC7470621 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00832-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies of mammalian sexual dimorphism have traditionally involved the measurement of selected dimensions of particular skeletal elements and use of single data-analysis procedures. Consequently, such studies have been limited by a variety of both practical and conceptual constraints. To compare and contrast what might be gained from a more exploratory, multifactorial approach to the quantitative assessment of form-variation, images of a small sample of modern Israeli gray wolf (Canis lupus) crania were analyzed via elliptical Fourier analysis of cranial outlines, a Naïve Bayes machine-learning approach to the analysis of these same outline data, and a deep-learning analysis of whole images in which all aspects of these cranial morphologies were represented. The statistical significance and stability of each discriminant result were tested using bootstrap and jackknife procedures. RESULTS Our results reveal no evidence for statistically significant sexual size dimorphism, but significant sex-mediated shape dimorphism. These are consistent with the findings of prior wolf sexual dimorphism studies and extend these studies by identifying new aspects of dimorphic variation. Additionally, our results suggest that shape-based sexual dimorphism in the C. lupus cranial complex may be more widespread morphologically than had been appreciated by previous researchers. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that size and shape dimorphism can be detected in small samples and may be dissociated in mammalian morphologies. This result is particularly noteworthy in that it implies there may be a need to refine allometric hypothesis tests that seek to account for phenotypic sexual dimorphism. The methods we employed in this investigation are fully generalizable and can be applied to a wide range of biological materials and could facilitate the rapid evaluation of a diverse array of morphological/phenomic hypotheses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Norman MacLeod
- School of Earth Science and Engineering, Zhu Gongshan Building, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023 Jiangsu China
| | - Liora Kolska Horwitz
- National Natural History Collections, Faculty of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Edmond J. Safra Campus - Givat Ram, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Clinal and Allometric Variation in the Skull of Sexually Dimorphic Opossums. J MAMM EVOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-020-09513-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
20
|
Machado FA. Selection and Constraints in the Ecomorphological Adaptive Evolution of the Skull of Living Canidae (Carnivora, Mammalia). Am Nat 2020; 196:197-215. [PMID: 32673094 DOI: 10.1086/709610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The association between phenotype and ecology is essential for understanding the environmental drivers of morphological evolution. This is a particularly challenging task when dealing with complex traits, such as the skull, where multiple selective pressures are at play and evolution might be constrained by ontogenetic and genetic factors. I integrate morphometric tools, comparative methods, and quantitative genetics to investigate how ontogenetic constraints and selection might have interacted during the evolution of the skull in extant Canidae. The results confirm that the evolution of cranial morphology was largely adaptive and molded by changes in diet composition. While the investigation of the adaptive landscape reveals two main selective lines of least resistance (one associated with size and one associated with functional shape features), rates of evolution along size were higher than those found for shape dimensions, suggesting the influence of constraints on morphological evolution. Structural modeling analyses revealed that size, which is the line of most genetic/phenotypic variation, might have acted as a constraint, negatively impacting dietary evolution. Constraints might have been overcome in the case of selection for the consumption of large prey by associating strong selection along both size and shape directions. The results obtained here show that microevolutionary constraints may have played a role in shaping macroevolutionary patterns of morphological evolution.
Collapse
|
21
|
Body Size and Bite Force of Stray and Feral Cats-Are Bigger or Older Cats Taking the Largest or More Difficult-to-Handle Prey? Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10040707. [PMID: 32316555 PMCID: PMC7222765 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
As carnivorans rely heavily on their head and jaws for prey capture and handling, skull morphology and bite force can therefore reflect their ability to take larger or more difficult-to-handle prey. For 568 feral and stray cats (Felis catus), we recorded their demographics (sex and age), source location (feral or stray) and morphological measures (body mass, body condition); we estimated potential bite force from skull measurements for n = 268 of these cats, and quantified diet composition from stomach contents for n = 358. We compared skull measurements to estimate their bite force and determine how it varied with sex, age, body mass, body condition. Body mass had the strongest influence of bite force. In our sample, males were 36.2% heavier and had 20.0% greater estimated bite force (206.2 ± 44.7 Newtons, n = 168) than females (171.9 ± 29.3 Newtons, n = 120). However, cat age was the strongest predictor of the size of prey that they had taken, with older cats taking larger prey. The predictive power of this relationship was poor though (r2 < 0.038, p < 0.003), because even small cats ate large prey and some of the largest cats ate small prey, such as invertebrates. Cats are opportunistic, generalist carnivores taking a broad range of prey. Their ability to handle larger prey increases as the cats grow, increasing their jaw strength, and improving their hunting skills, but even the smallest cats in our sample had tackled and consumed large and potentially 'dangerous' prey that would likely have put up a defence.
Collapse
|
22
|
Functional morphology of the jaw adductor muscles in the Canidae. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 303:2878-2903. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.24391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
|
23
|
Schiaffini MI, Segura V, Prevosti FJ. Geographic variation in skull shape and size of the Pampas fox Lycalopex gymnocercus (Carnivora: Canidae) in Argentina. Mamm Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
24
|
Machado FA, Zahn TMG, Marroig G. Evolution of morphological integration in the skull of Carnivora (Mammalia): Changes in Canidae lead to increased evolutionary potential of facial traits. Evolution 2018; 72:1399-1419. [PMID: 29803199 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Morphological integration refers to the fact that different phenotypic traits of organisms are not fully independent from each other, and tend to covary to different degrees. The covariation among traits is thought to reflect properties of the species' genetic architecture and thus can have an impact on evolutionary responses. Furthermore, if morphological integration changes along the history of a group, inferences of past selection regimes might be problematic. Here, we evaluated the stability and evolution of the morphological integration of skull traits in Carnivora by using evolutionary simulations and phylogenetic comparative methods. Our results show that carnivoran species are able to respond to natural selection in a very similar way. Our comparative analyses show that the phylogenetic signal for pattern of integration is lower than that observed for morphology (trait averages), and that integration was stable throughout the evolution of the group. That notwithstanding, Canidae differed from other families by having higher integration, evolvability, flexibility, and allometric coefficients on the facial region. These changes might have allowed canids to rapidly adapt to different food sources, helping to explain not only the phenotypic diversification of the family, but also why humans were able to generate such a great diversity of dog breeds through artificial selection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Andrade Machado
- División Mastozoologa, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, "Bernardino Rivadavia". Av. Ángel Gallardo 470 (C1405DJR), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Thiago Macek Gonçalves Zahn
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Marroig
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Behrendorff L, Belonje G, Allen BL. Intraspecific killing behaviour of canids: how dingoes kill dingoes. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2017.1316522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Linda Behrendorff
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
- Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Fraser Island, Queensland 4581, Australia
| | - Grant Belonje
- Fraser Coast Veterinary Services, Maryborough, Queensland 4650, Australia
| | - Benjamin L. Allen
- Institute for Agriculture and the Environment, The University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Forbes-Harper JL, Crawford HM, Dundas SJ, Warburton NM, Adams PJ, Bateman PW, Calver MC, Fleming PA. Diet and bite force in red foxes: ontogenetic and sex differences in an invasive carnivore. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. L. Forbes-Harper
- School of Veterinary & Life Sciences; Murdoch University; Murdoch WA Australia
| | - H. M. Crawford
- School of Veterinary & Life Sciences; Murdoch University; Murdoch WA Australia
| | - S. J. Dundas
- School of Veterinary & Life Sciences; Murdoch University; Murdoch WA Australia
| | - N. M. Warburton
- School of Veterinary & Life Sciences; Murdoch University; Murdoch WA Australia
| | - P. J. Adams
- School of Veterinary & Life Sciences; Murdoch University; Murdoch WA Australia
| | - P. W. Bateman
- Department of Environment and Agriculture; Curtin University; Bentley WA Australia
| | - M. C. Calver
- School of Veterinary & Life Sciences; Murdoch University; Murdoch WA Australia
| | - P. A. Fleming
- School of Veterinary & Life Sciences; Murdoch University; Murdoch WA Australia
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Severtsov AS, Kormylitsin AA, Severtsova EA, Yatsuk IA. Functional differentiation of teeth in the wolf (Canis lupus, Canidae, Carnivora). BIOL BULL+ 2017. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359016110133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
28
|
Meloro C, Hunter J, Tomsett L, Portela Miguez R, Prevosti FJ, Brown RP. Evolutionary ecomorphology of the Falkland Islands wolfDusicyon australis. Mamm Rev 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Meloro
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology; School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
| | - Jonathan Hunter
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology; School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
| | - Louise Tomsett
- Mammal Section, Life Sciences, Vertebrate Division; The Natural History Museum; Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD UK
| | - Roberto Portela Miguez
- Mammal Section, Life Sciences, Vertebrate Division; The Natural History Museum; Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD UK
| | - Francisco J. Prevosti
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Transferencia Tecnologica (CRILAR); Entre Ríos Mendoza s/n (5301) Anillaco; La Rioja Argentina
| | - Richard P. Brown
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology; School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University; Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF UK
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Smith BP, Lucas TA, Norris RM, Henneberg M. Brain size/body weight in the dingo (Canis dingo): comparisons with domestic and wild canids. AUST J ZOOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1071/zo17040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Endocranial volume was measured in a large sample (n = 128) of free-ranging dingoes (Canis dingo) where body size was known. The brain/body size relationship in the dingoes was compared with populations of wild (Family Canidae) and domestic canids (Canis familiaris). Despite a great deal of variation among wild and domestic canids, the brain/body size of dingoes forms a tight cluster within the variation of domestic dogs. Like dogs, free-ranging dingoes have paedomorphic crania; however, dingoes have a larger brain and are more encephalised than most domestic breeds of dog. The dingo’s brain/body size relationship was similar to those of other mesopredators (medium-sized predators that typically prey on smaller animals), including the dhole (Cuon alpinus) and the coyote (Canis latrans). These findings have implications for the antiquity and classification of the dingo, as well as the impact of feralisation on brain size. At the same time, it highlights the difficulty in using brain/body size to distinguish wild and domestic canids.
Collapse
|
30
|
Penrose F, Kemp GJ, Jeffery N. Scaling and Accommodation of Jaw Adductor Muscles in Canidae. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2016; 299:951-66. [PMID: 27103346 PMCID: PMC5084800 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The masticatory apparatus amongst closely related carnivoran species raises intriguing questions about the interplay between allometry, function, and phylogeny in defining interspecific variations of cranial morphology. Here we describe the gross structure of the jaw adductor muscles of several species of canid, and then examine how the muscles are scaled across the range of body sizes, phylogenies, and trophic groups. We also consider how the muscles are accommodated on the skull, and how this is influenced by differences of endocranial size. Data were collected for a suite of morphological metrics, including body mass, endocranial volume, and muscle masses and we used geometric morphometric shape analysis to reveal associated form changes. We find that all jaw adductor muscles scale isometrically against body mass, regardless of phylogeny or trophic group, but that endocranial volume scales with negative allometry against body mass. These findings suggest that head shape is partly influenced by the need to house isometrically scaling muscles on a neurocranium scaling with negative allometry. Principal component analysis suggests that skull shape changes, such as the relatively wide zygomatic arches and large sagittal crests seen in species with higher body masses, allow the skull to accommodate a relative enlargement of the jaw adductors compared with the endocranium. Anat Rec, 299:951-966, 2016. © 2016 The Authors The Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fay Penrose
- Institute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseDepartment of Musculoskeletal Biology and the MRCArthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUnited Kingdom
- School of Veterinary ScienceDepartment of Veterinary Preclinical ScienceUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUnited Kingdom
| | - Graham J. Kemp
- Institute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseDepartment of Musculoskeletal Biology and the MRCArthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUnited Kingdom
| | - Nathan Jeffery
- Institute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseDepartment of Musculoskeletal Biology and the MRCArthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUnited Kingdom
- Human Anatomy Resource CentreUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUnited Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Meloro C, Hudson A, Rook L. Feeding habits of extant and fossil canids as determined by their skull geometry. J Zool (1987) 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Meloro
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology; School of Natural Sciences and Psychology; Liverpool John Moores University; Liverpool UK
| | - A. Hudson
- Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology; School of Natural Sciences and Psychology; Liverpool John Moores University; Liverpool UK
| | - L. Rook
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra; Università di Firenze; Firenze Italy
| |
Collapse
|