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Pintore R, Hutchinson JR, Bishop PJ, Tsai HP, Houssaye A. The evolution of femoral morphology in giant non-avian theropod dinosaurs. PALEOBIOLOGY 2024; 50:308-329. [PMID: 38846629 PMCID: PMC7616063 DOI: 10.1017/pab.2024.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Theropods are obligate bipedal dinosaurs that appeared 230 million years ago and are still extant as birds. Their history is characterized by extreme variations in body mass, with gigantism evolving convergently between many lineages. However, no quantification of hindlimb functional morphology has shown if these body mass increases led to similar specializations between distinct lineages. Here we studied femoral shape variation across 41 species of theropods (n= 68 specimens) using a high-density 3D geometric morphometric approach. We demonstrated that the heaviest theropods evolved wider epiphyses and a more distally located fourth trochanter, as previously demonstrated in early archosaurs, along with an upturned femoral head and a mediodistal crest that extended proximally along the shaft. Phylogenetically informed analyses highlighted that these traits evolved convergently within six major theropod lineages, regardless of their maximum body mass. Conversely, the most gracile femora were distinct from the rest of the dataset, which we interpret as a femoral specialization to "miniaturization" evolving close to Avialae (bird lineage). Our results support a gradual evolution of known "avian" features, such as the fusion between lesser and greater trochanters and a reduction of the epiphyses' offset, independently from body mass variations, which may relate to a more "avian" type of locomotion (more knee-than hip-driven). The distinction between body mass variations and a more "avian" locomotion is represented by a decoupling in the mediodistal crest morphology, whose biomechanical nature should be studied to better understand the importance of its functional role in gigantism, miniaturization and higher parasagittal abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Pintore
- Mécanismes adaptatifs et évolution (MECADEV) / UMR 7179. CNRS / Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, FR
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
| | | | - Peter J. Bishop
- Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
- Geosciences Program, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Queensland, AU
| | - Henry P. Tsai
- Department of Biology, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, USA
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- Mécanismes adaptatifs et évolution (MECADEV) / UMR 7179. CNRS / Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, FR
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Etienne C, Houssaye A, Fagan MJ, Hutchinson JR. Estimation of the forces exerted on the limb long bones of a white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) using musculoskeletal modelling and simulation. J Anat 2024. [PMID: 38558391 DOI: 10.1111/joa.14041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Heavy animals incur large forces on their limb bones, due to the transmission of body weight and ground reaction forces, and the contractions of the various muscles of the limbs. This is particularly true for rhinoceroses, the heaviest extant animals capable of galloping. Several studies have examined their musculoskeletal system and the forces their bones incur, but no detailed quantification has ever been attempted. Such quantification could help understand better the link between form and function in giant land animals. Here we constructed three-dimensional musculoskeletal models of the forelimb and hindlimb of Ceratotherium simum, the heaviest extant rhino species, and used static optimisation (inverse) simulations to estimate the forces applied on the bones when standing at rest, including magnitudes and directions. Overall, unsurprisingly, the most active muscles were antigravity muscles, which generate moments opposing body weight (thereby incurring the ground reaction force), and thus keep the joints extended, avoiding joint collapse via flexion. Some muscles have an antigravity action around several joints, and thus were found to be highly active, likely specialised in body weight support (ulnaris lateralis; digital flexors). The humerus was subjected to the greatest amount of forces in terms of total magnitude; forces on the humerus furthermore came from a great variety of directions. The radius was mainly subject to high-magnitude compressive joint reaction forces, but to little muscular tension, whereas the opposite pattern was observed for the ulna. The femur had a pattern similar to that of the humerus, and the tibia's pattern was intermediate, being subject to great compression in its caudal side but to great tension in its cranial side (i.e. bending). The fibula was subject to by far the lowest force magnitude. Overall, the forces estimated were consistent with the documented morphofunctional adaptations of C. simum's long bones, which have larger insertion areas for several muscles and a greater robusticity overall than those of lighter rhinos, likely reflecting the intense forces we estimated here. Our estimates of muscle and bone (joint) loading regimes for this giant tetrapod improve the understanding of the links between form and function in supportive tissues and could be extended to other aspects of bone morphology, such as microanatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Etienne
- UMR 7179 Mécanismes adaptatifs et Évolution (MECADEV), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- UMR 7179 Mécanismes adaptatifs et Évolution (MECADEV), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Michael J Fagan
- Department of Engineering, Medical and Biological Engineering Research Group, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - John R Hutchinson
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
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Houssaye A, Etienne C, Gallic Y, Rocchia F, Chaves-Jacob J. How can research on modern and fossil bones help us build more resistant columns? BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2024; 19:036007. [PMID: 38452389 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/ad311f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Bone is an economical material. Indeed, as moving a heavy skeleton is energetically costly, the vertebrate skeleton is adapted to maximise resistance to the stresses imposed with a minimum amount of material, so that bone tissue is deposited where it is needed. Using bone as a source of inspiration should therefore reduce the manufacturing cost (both financial and ecological) and increase the strength (and lifespan) of bioinspired (BI) structures. This study proposes to investigate which adaptive features of the outer shape and inner structure of bone, related to compressive strength, could be used to build BI support structures. To do so, we explain the choice of the bones to be analysed and present the results of the biomechanical analyses (finite element analysis) carried out on virtual models built from the structures of the different bone models and of the mechanical tests carried out on 3D-printed versions of these models. The compressive strength of these direct bone BI columns was compared with each other, and with those of a conventional filled cylindrical column, and of a cylindrical column whose internal structure is BI from the radius of the white rhinoceros. The results of our comparative analyses highlight that the shape of long bones is less effective than a cylinder in resisting compression but underline the relevance in designing BI cylindrical columns with heterogeneous structures inspired by the radius of the white rhinoceros and the tibia of the Asian elephant, and raise the interest in studying the fossil record using the radius of the giant rhinocerotoidParaceratherium.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Houssaye
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179 CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier CP-55, 75005 Paris, France
| | - C Etienne
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179 CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier CP-55, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Y Gallic
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179 CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier CP-55, 75005 Paris, France
| | - F Rocchia
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, ISM, Inst Mouvement Sci, UMR, 7287 Marseille, France
| | - J Chaves-Jacob
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, ISM, Inst Mouvement Sci, UMR, 7287 Marseille, France
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Reinitz LZ, Cerny C, Papp E, Biácsi A, Fajtai D, Petneházy Ö. CT based 3D reconstruction of the forefoot's blood supply in a white rhinoceros. Acta Vet Scand 2024; 66:10. [PMID: 38454467 PMCID: PMC10921585 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-024-00732-2] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is close to extinction, listed as "Near Threatened", with a decreasing population on the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In at least 50% of the specimens in captivity, podiatric diseases, such as osteitis, osteomyelitis, chip fractures, enthesophytes, fractures and osteoarthritis were found during necropsy. These osteal deformations cause further pathogenic alterations in the soft tissues, particularly in the digital cushion. The literature provides good description of the skeleton of the rhino's limbs, but similar for the vascular system is non-existent. In order to recognize the symptoms in an early state and for a successful surgical treatment, precise knowledge of the vascular anatomy is essential. The purpose of our study was to provide detailed anatomical description of the blood supply of the digits and that of the digital cushion. RESULTS The blood supply of the distal foot, digits and digital cushions were perfectly visible on the reconstructed and coloured 3D models. The deep palmar arch provided not only the blood supply to the digits but had a palmaro-distal running branch which developed a trifurcation proximal to the proximal sesamoid bones of the third digit. Two of its branches participated in the blood supply of the digits' proximal palmar surface, while the major branch supplied the digital cushion from proximal direction. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show a unique blood supply: the main vessels of the digital cushion stem both directly from the deep palmar arch and from the digits' own arteries. The detailed description of vessels may be useful in planning surgery of the region and also in cases where the veins of the ear are not accessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Zoltán Reinitz
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István utca 2, Budapest, H-1078, Hungary.
| | - Claudia Cerny
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István utca 2, Budapest, H-1078, Hungary
| | - Endre Papp
- Nyíregyházi Állatpark Nonprofit Kft. (Sosto Zoo), HRSz15010/2, Sóstói út, Nyíregyháza, H-4431, Hungary
| | - Alexandra Biácsi
- Nyíregyházi Állatpark Nonprofit Kft. (Sosto Zoo), HRSz15010/2, Sóstói út, Nyíregyháza, H-4431, Hungary
| | - Daniel Fajtai
- Medicopus Nonprofit Kft, Tallián Gy u. 20-32, Kaposvár, H-7400, Hungary
| | - Örs Petneházy
- Medicopus Nonprofit Kft, Tallián Gy u. 20-32, Kaposvár, H-7400, Hungary
- Department of Physiology and Animal Health, Institute of Physiology and Nutrition, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kaposvár Campus, Guba Sandor u. 40, Kaposvár, H-7400, Hungary
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Myhrvold NP, Baumgart SL, Vidal D, Fish FE, Henderson DM, Saitta ET, Sereno PC. Diving dinosaurs? Caveats on the use of bone compactness and pFDA for inferring lifestyle. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298957. [PMID: 38446841 PMCID: PMC10917332 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298957] [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: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The lifestyle of spinosaurid dinosaurs has been a topic of lively debate ever since the unveiling of important new skeletal parts for Spinosaurus aegyptiacus in 2014 and 2020. Disparate lifestyles for this taxon have been proposed in the literature; some have argued that it was semiaquatic to varying degrees, hunting fish from the margins of water bodies, or perhaps while wading or swimming on the surface; others suggest that it was a fully aquatic underwater pursuit predator. The various proposals are based on equally disparate lines of evidence. A recent study by Fabbri and coworkers sought to resolve this matter by applying the statistical method of phylogenetic flexible discriminant analysis to femur and rib bone diameters and a bone microanatomy metric called global bone compactness. From their statistical analyses of datasets based on a wide range of extant and extinct taxa, they concluded that two spinosaurid dinosaurs (S. aegyptiacus, Baryonyx walkeri) were fully submerged "subaqueous foragers," whereas a third spinosaurid (Suchomimus tenerensis) remained a terrestrial predator. We performed a thorough reexamination of the datasets, analyses, and methodological assumptions on which those conclusions were based, which reveals substantial problems in each of these areas. In the datasets of exemplar taxa, we found unsupported categorization of taxon lifestyle, inconsistent inclusion and exclusion of taxa, and inappropriate choice of taxa and independent variables. We also explored the effects of uncontrolled sources of variation in estimates of bone compactness that arise from biological factors and measurement error. We found that the ability to draw quantitative conclusions is limited when taxa are represented by single data points with potentially large intrinsic variability. The results of our analysis of the statistical method show that it has low accuracy when applied to these datasets and that the data distributions do not meet fundamental assumptions of the method. These findings not only invalidate the conclusions of the particular analysis of Fabbri et al. but also have important implications for future quantitative uses of bone compactness and discriminant analysis in paleontology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephanie L. Baumgart
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Daniel Vidal
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Física Matemática y de Fluidos, Grupo de Biología Evolutiva, UNED, Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Frank E. Fish
- Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | | | - Evan T. Saitta
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Paul C. Sereno
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Committee on Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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Magnet R, Bloch K, Taverne M, Melzi S, Geoffroy M, Khonsari RH, Ovsjanikov M. Assessing craniofacial growth and form without landmarks: A new automatic approach based on spectral methods. J Morphol 2023; 284:e21609. [PMID: 37458086 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
We present a novel method for the morphometric analysis of series of 3D shapes, and demonstrate its relevance for the detection and quantification of two craniofacial anomalies: trigonocephaly and metopic ridges, using CT-scans of young children. Our approach is fully automatic, and does not rely on manual landmark placement and annotations. Our approach furthermore allows to differentiate shape classes, enabling successful differential diagnosis between trigonocephaly and metopic ridges, two related conditions characterized by triangular foreheads. These results were obtained using recent developments in automatic nonrigid 3D shape correspondence methods and specifically spectral approaches based on the functional map framework. Our method can capture local changes in geometric structure, in contrast to methods based, for instance, on global shape descriptors. As such, our approach allows to perform automatic shape classification and provides visual feedback on shape regions associated with different classes of deformations. The flexibility and generality of our approach paves the way for the application of spectral methods in quantitative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Magnet
- LIX, École Polytechnique, IP Paris, Palaiseau, France
| | - Kevin Bloch
- Laboratoire "Forme et Croissance du Crâne", Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Maxime Taverne
- Laboratoire "Forme et Croissance du Crâne", Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Simone Melzi
- Department of Informatics, Systems and Communication, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Maya Geoffroy
- Laboratoire "Forme et Croissance du Crâne", Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Roman H Khonsari
- Laboratoire "Forme et Croissance du Crâne", Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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van Zoelen JD, Camens AB, Worthy TH, Prideaux GJ. Description of the Pliocene marsupial Ambulator keanei gen. nov. (Marsupialia: Diprotodontidae) from inland Australia and its locomotory adaptations. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230211. [PMID: 37266037 PMCID: PMC10230189 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Diprotodontids were the largest marsupials to exist and an integral part of Australian terrestrial ecosystems until the last members of the group became extinct approximately 40 000 years ago. Despite the frequency with which diprotodontid remains are encountered, key aspects of their morphology, systematics, ecology and evolutionary history remain poorly understood. Here we describe new skeletal remains of the Pliocene taxon Zygomaturus keanei from northern South Australia. This is only the third partial skeleton of a late Cenozoic diprotodontid described in the last century, and the first displaying soft tissue structures associated with footpad impressions. Whereas it is difficult to distinguish Z. keanei and the type species of the genus, Z. trilobus, on dental grounds, the marked cranial and postcranial differences suggest that Z. keanei warrants genus-level distinction. Accordingly, we place it in the monotypic Ambulator gen. nov. We, also recognize the late Miocene Z. gilli as a nomen dubium. Features of the forelimb, manus and pes reveal that Ambulator keanei was more graviportal with greater adaptation to quadrupedal walking than earlier diprotodontids. These adaptations may have been driven by a need to travel longer distances to obtain resources as open habitats expanded in the late Pliocene of inland Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob D. van Zoelen
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Aaron B. Camens
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Trevor H. Worthy
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Gavin J. Prideaux
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
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Bader C, Delapré A, Houssaye A. Shape variation in the limb long bones of modern elephants reveals adaptations to body mass and habitat. J Anat 2023; 242:806-830. [PMID: 36824051 PMCID: PMC10093169 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
During evolution, several vertebrate lineages have shown trends towards an increase in mass. Such a trend is associated with physiological and musculoskeletal changes necessary to carry and move an increasingly heavy body. Due to their prominent role in the support and movement of the body, limb long bones are highly affected by these shifts in body mass. Elephants are the heaviest living terrestrial mammals, displaying unique features allowing them to withstand their massive weight, such as the columnarity of their limbs, and as such are crucial to understand the evolution towards high body mass in land mammals. In this study, we investigate the shape variation of the six limb long bones among the modern elephants, Elephas maximus and Loxodonta africana, to understand the effect of body mass and habitat on the external anatomy of the bones. To do so, we use three-dimensional geometric morphometrics (GMMs) and qualitative comparisons to describe the shape variation, at both the intraspecific and interspecific levels. Our results reveal that the two species share similar negative ontogenetic allometric patterns (i.e. becoming stouter with increased length) in their humerus and femur, but not in the other bones: the proximal epiphyses of the stylopod bones develop considerably during growth, while the distal epiphyses, which are involved in load distribution in the elbow and knee joints, are already massive in juveniles. We attribute this pattern to a weight-bearing adaptation already present in young specimens. Among adults of the same species, bone robustness increases with body mass, so that heavier specimens display stouter bones allowing for a better mechanical load distribution. While this robustness variation is significant for the humerus only, all the other bones appear to follow the same pattern. This is particularly visible in the ulna and tibia, but less so in the femur, which suggests that the forelimb and hindlimb adapted differently to high body mass support. Robustness analyses, while significant for the humerus only, suggest more robust long bones in Asian elephants than in African savanna elephants. More specifically, GMMs and qualitative comparisons indicate that three bones are clearly distinct when comparing the two species: in E. maximus the humerus, the ulna and the tibia display enlarged areas of muscular insertions for muscles involved in joint and limb stabilization, as well as in limb rotation. These results suggest a higher limb compliance in Asian elephants, associated with a higher dexterity, which could be linked to their habitat and foraging habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Bader
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179, Mécanismes adaptatifs et Évolution (MECADEV) CNRS/Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Delapré
- UMR 7205, Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, SU, EPHE, UA, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179, Mécanismes adaptatifs et Évolution (MECADEV) CNRS/Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
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9
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Costes P, Klein E, Delapré A, Houssin C, Nicolas V, Cornette R. Comparative morpho-functional analysis of the humerus and ulna in three Western European moles species of the genus Talpa, including the newly described T. aquitania. J Anat 2022; 242:257-276. [PMID: 36156797 PMCID: PMC9877487 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The forelimb is involved in many behaviours including locomotion. Notably, the humero-ulnar articulation, implicated in the elbow joint, is of particular importance for both mobility and stability. Functional constraints, induced in part by environmental plasticity, are thought to drive an important part of the bone shape as bone directly responds and remodels in response to both muscle and external forces. In this context, the study of subterranean moles is of particular interest. These moles occupy a hard and heavy medium in comparison with air or water, requiring a powerful body structure to shear and shift the soil. Their general morphology is therefore adapted to digging and to their subterranean lifestyle. The various morpho-functional patterns, which drive diverse abilities according to the environment, are likely targets of natural selection and it is, therefore, useful to understand the relationships between the bone shape and their function. Here, we quantify, through 3D geometric morphometric methods, the interspecific variability in the morphology of the ulna and humerus of three Talpa species, including the new species Talpa aquitania, to infer their potential consequence in species digging performance. We also quantify shape covariation and morphological integration between the humerus and the ulna to test whether these bones evolve as a uniform functional unit or as more or less independent modules. Our results show that interspecific anatomical differences in the humerus and ulna exist among the three species. Shape changes are mostly located at the level of joints and muscle attachments. As the species tend to live in allopatry and the fossorial lifestyle induces strong ecological constraints, interspecific variations could be explained by the properties of the environment in which they live, such as the compactness of the soil. Our results also show that the humerus and ulna are highly integrated. The covariation between the humerus and ulna in moles is dominated by variation in the attachment areas and particularly of the attachment areas of shoulder muscles concerning the humerus, which affect the mechanical force deployed during locomotion and digging. This study also highlights that in the new species, T. aquitania, variations in anatomical structure (general shape and joints) exist and are related to the locality of collect of the individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Costes
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB)UMR 7205, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, SU, EPHE, UAParisFrance,Mecanismes Adaptatifs et Évolution UMR 7179, CNRSMuséum National d'Histoire NaturelleParisFrance
| | - Estelle Klein
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB)UMR 7205, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, SU, EPHE, UAParisFrance
| | - Arnaud Delapré
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB)UMR 7205, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, SU, EPHE, UAParisFrance
| | - Céline Houssin
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB)UMR 7205, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, SU, EPHE, UAParisFrance
| | - Violaine Nicolas
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB)UMR 7205, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, SU, EPHE, UAParisFrance
| | - Raphaël Cornette
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB)UMR 7205, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, SU, EPHE, UAParisFrance
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10
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Georgitsis MK, Liakopoulou DΕ, Theodorou GE, Tsiolakis E. Functional morphology of the hindlimb of fossilized pygmy hippopotamus from Ayia Napa (Cyprus). J Morphol 2022; 283:1048-1079. [PMID: 35708268 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We studied the functional morphology of the postcranial skeleton of the endemic hippopotamus Phanourios minor, derived from the Upper Pleistocene site of Ayia Napa. The deposit, which consists of a hard limestone substrate on which the species moved, has yielded a great abundance of hippopotamus material, making the Ayia Napa locality one of the most important paleontological sites in Cyprus. The immigration of the large-sized mainland Hippopotamus to Cyprus led to the emergence of a new insular species with its main characteristic being the extremely reduced body size. In this study, all the hindlimb elements of the Cypriot hippo are described in detail and compared with those of the modern species, with the extant Hippopotamus amphibius being considered similar to the possible ancestor of P. minor. In some cases, the morphological comparison is reinforced using bones of other extinct insular and mainland hippos. Additionally, we provided a functional analysis of the hindlimb joints, suggesting specific locomotor habits for the species. The anatomical examination reveals that the elements in P. minor are robust with marked muscular insertion areas resembling those found in Hippopotamus. However, there are also similarities with Choeropsis liberiensis in certain morphofunctional traits. P. minor adapted to slow but powerful locomotion with remarkable stabilization, particularly in the zeugopodium and the autopodium. The knee was less mobile in the craniocaudal direction compared with that in recent hippos, while the abduction-adduction movements of the thigh were advanced. The pes presented good mobility in the sagittal plane and limitation in transversal movements. Thus, P. minor displayed modifications to its limbs, influenced by the mountainous island environment and the body size reduction, resulting in specialized locomotion, which was different from that of extant hippopotamuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail K Georgitsis
- Department of Historical Geology-Paleontology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dionysia Ε Liakopoulou
- Department of Historical Geology-Paleontology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios E Theodorou
- Department of Historical Geology-Paleontology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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11
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Lefebvre R, Houssaye A, Mallison H, Cornette R, Allain R. A path to gigantism: Three‐dimensional study of the sauropodomorph limb long bone shape variation in the context of the emergence of the sauropod bauplan. J Anat 2022; 241:297-336. [PMID: 35249216 PMCID: PMC9296025 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13646] [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: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sauropodomorph dinosaurs include the largest terrestrial animals that ever lived on Earth. The early representatives of this clade were, however, relatively small and partially to totally bipedal, conversely to the gigantic and quadrupedal sauropods. Although the sauropod bauplan is well defined, notably by the acquisition of columnar limbs, the evolutionary sequence leading to its emergence remains debated. Here, we aim to tackle this evolutionary episode by investigating shape variation in the six limb long bones for the first time using three‐dimensional geometric morphometrics. The morphological features of the forelimb zeugopod bones related to the sauropod bauplan tend to appear abruptly, whereas the pattern is more gradual for the hindlimb zeugopod bones. The stylopod bones tend to show the same pattern as their respective zeugopods. The abrupt emergence of the sauropod forelimb questions the locomotor abilities of non‐sauropodan sauropodomorphs inferred as quadrupeds. Features characterizing sauropods tend to corroborate a view of their locomotion mainly based on stylopod retraction. An allometric investigation of the shape variation in accordance with size highlight differences in hindlimb bone allometries between the sauropods and the non‐sauropodan sauropodomorphs. These differences notably correspond to an unexpected robustness decrease trend in the sauropod hindlimb zeugopod. In addition to forelimb bones that appear to be proportionally more gracile than in non‐sauropodan sauropodomorphs, sauropods may have relied on limb architecture and features related to the size increase, rather than general robustness, to deal with the role of weight‐bearing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémi Lefebvre
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Évolution, UMR 7179, MNHN, CNRS Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle Paris France
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Évolution, UMR 7179, MNHN, CNRS Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle Paris France
| | | | - Raphaël Cornette
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité, UMR7205, MNHN, CNRS, SU, EPHE, UA Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle Paris France
| | - Ronan Allain
- Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie – Paris, UMR 7207, MNHN, CNRS, SU Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle Paris France
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12
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Engelman RK. Occipital condyle width (OCW) is a highly accurate predictor of body mass in therian mammals. BMC Biol 2022; 20:37. [PMID: 35130893 PMCID: PMC8883515 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01224-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Body mass estimation is of paramount importance for paleobiological studies, as body size influences numerous other biological parameters. In mammals, body mass has been traditionally estimated using regression equations based on measurements of the dentition or limb bones, but for many species teeth are unreliable estimators of body mass and postcranial elements are unknown. This issue is exemplified in several groups of extinct mammals that have disproportionately large heads relative to their body size and for which postcranial remains are rare. In these taxa, previous authors have noted that the occiput is unusually small relative to the skull, suggesting that occiput dimensions may be a more accurate predictor of body mass. RESULTS The relationship between occipital condyle width (OCW) and body mass was tested using a large dataset (2127 specimens and 404 species) of mammals with associated in vivo body mass. OCW was found to be a strong predictor of body mass across therian mammals, with regression models of Mammalia as a whole producing error values (~ 31.1% error) comparable to within-order regression equations of other skeletal variables in previous studies. Some clades (e.g., monotremes, lagomorphs) exhibited specialized occiput morphology but followed the same allometric relationship as the majority of mammals. Compared to two traditional metrics of body mass estimation, skull length, and head-body length, OCW outperformed both in terms of model accuracy. CONCLUSIONS OCW-based regression models provide an alternative method of estimating body mass to traditional craniodental and postcranial metrics and are highly accurate despite the broad taxonomic scope of the dataset. Because OCW accurately predicts body mass in most therian mammals, it can be used to estimate body mass in taxa with no close living analogues without concerns of insufficient phylogenetic bracketing or extrapolating beyond the bounds of the data. This, in turn, provides a robust method for estimating body mass in groups for which body mass estimation has previously been problematic (e.g., "creodonts" and other extinct Paleogene mammals).
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell K Engelman
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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13
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14
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Mallet C, Houssaye A, Cornette R, Billet G. Long bone shape variation in the forelimb of Rhinocerotoidea: relation with size, body mass and body proportions. Zool J Linn Soc 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In quadrupeds, limb bones are strongly affected by functional constraints linked to weight support, but few studies have addressed the complementary effects of mass, size and body proportions on limb bone shape. During their history, Rhinocerotoidea have displayed a great diversity of body masses and relative size and proportions of limb bones, from small tapir-like forms to giant species. Here, we explore the evolutionary variation of shapes in forelimb bones and its relationship with body mass in Rhinocerotoidea. Our results indicate a general increase in robustness and greater development of muscular insertions in heavier species, counteracting the higher weight loadings induced by an increased body mass. The shape of the humerus changes allometrically and exhibits a strong phylogenetic signal. Shapes of the radius and ulna display a stronger link with body mass repartition than with the absolute mass itself. Congruent shape variation between the humerus and the proximal part of the ulna suggests that the elbow joint is comprised of two strongly covariant structures. In addition, our work confirms the uniqueness of giant Paraceratheriidae among Rhinocerotoidea, whose shape variation is related to both a high body mass and a cursorial forelimb construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Mallet
- Mécanismes adaptatifs et évolution (MECADEV), UMR 7179, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 55 rue Buffon, CP 55, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- Mécanismes adaptatifs et évolution (MECADEV), UMR 7179, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 55 rue Buffon, CP 55, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Raphaël Cornette
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), UMR 7205, MNHN, CNRS, Sorbonne Université (SU), École Pratique des Hautes Études, Université des Antilles, 57 rue Cuvier, CP 50, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Billet
- Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie – Paris (CR2P), UMR 7207, MNHN, CNRS, SU, 8 rue Buffon, CP 38, 75005 Paris, France
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15
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Pintore R, Houssaye A, Nesbitt SJ, Hutchinson JR. Femoral specializations to locomotor habits in early archosauriforms. J Anat 2021; 240:867-892. [PMID: 34841511 PMCID: PMC9005686 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary history of archosaurs and their closest relatives is characterized by a wide diversity of locomotor modes, which has even been suggested as a pivotal aspect underlying the evolutionary success of dinosaurs vs. pseudosuchians across the Triassic–Jurassic transition. This locomotor diversity (e.g., more sprawling/erect; crouched/upright; quadrupedal/bipedal) led to several morphofunctional specializations of archosauriform limb bones that have been studied qualitatively as well as quantitatively through various linear morphometric studies. However, differences in locomotor habits have never been studied across the Triassic–Jurassic transition using 3D geometric morphometrics, which can relate how morphological features vary according to biological factors such as locomotor habit and body mass. Herein, we investigate morphological variation across a dataset of 72 femora from 36 different species of archosauriforms. First, we identify femoral head rotation, distal slope of the fourth trochanter, femoral curvature, and the angle between the lateral condyle and crista tibiofibularis as the main features varying between bipedal and quadrupedal taxa, all of these traits having a stronger locomotor signal than the lesser trochanter's proximal extent. We show a significant association between locomotor mode and phylogeny, but with the locomotor signal being stronger than the phylogenetic signal. This enables us to predict locomotor modes of some of the more ambiguous early archosauriforms without relying on the relationships between hindlimb and forelimb linear bone dimensions as in prior studies. Second, we highlight that the most important morphological variation is linked to the increase of body size, which impacts the width of the epiphyses and the roundness and proximodistal position of the fourth trochanter. Furthermore, we show that bipedal and quadrupedal archosauriforms have different allometric trajectories along the morphological variation in relation to body size. Finally, we demonstrate a covariation between locomotor mode and body size, with variations in femoral bowing (anteroposterior curvature) being more distinct among robust femora than gracile ones. We also identify a decoupling in fourth trochanter variation between locomotor mode (symmetrical to semi‐pendant) and body size (sharp to rounded). Our results indicate a similar level of morphological disparity linked to a clear convergence in femoral robusticity between the two clades of archosauriforms (Pseudosuchia and Avemetatarsalia), emphasizing the importance of accounting for body size when studying their evolutionary history, as well as when studying the functional morphology of appendicular features. Determining how early archosauriform skeletal features were impacted by locomotor habits and body size also enables us to discuss the potential homoplasy of some phylogenetic characters used previously in cladistic analyses as well as when bipedalism evolved in the avemetatarsalian lineage. This study illuminates how the evolution of femoral morphology in early archosauriforms was functionally constrained by locomotor habit and body size, which should aid ongoing discussions about the early evolution of dinosaurs and the nature of their evolutionary “success” over pseudosuchians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Pintore
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK.,Mécanismes adaptatifs et évolution (MECADEV)/UMR 7179, CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- Mécanismes adaptatifs et évolution (MECADEV)/UMR 7179, CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | | | - John R Hutchinson
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK
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Pelletier M, Niinimäki S, Salmi AK. Influence of captivity and selection on limb long bone cross-sectional morphology of reindeer. J Morphol 2021; 282:1533-1556. [PMID: 34323317 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of pastoralism and animal husbandry has been a critical point in the history of human evolution. Beyond profound behavioural changes in domesticated animals compared to wild ones, characterising the morphological changes associated with domestication process remains challenging. Because reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) can be considered to still be in the early phases of the domestication process, the study of modern populations provides a unique opportunity to examine the impact of captivity and selective breeding on skeletal changes. In this work, we investigated the morphological changes in long limb bone cross-sections using 137 wild and domestic reindeer individuals bred in free-range, in captivity or used for racing and pulling. The shape and shaft cortical thickness of the six long limb bones (i.e., humerus, radioulna, metacarpal, femur, tibia and metatarsal) were measured using a 2D-geometric morphometrics approach taking into account subspecies, sex, body mass and lifestyle differences. These bones are important to understanding functional morphological changes because they can provide information on feeding and locomotor behaviours, as well as on body propulsion and weight bearing. Apart from the effects of taxonomy, etho-ecology and sex, we have found that captivity and selection induced important variations in the size and body mass of modern reindeer. Our results also showed that patterns of variation in cortical bone thickness of long limb bone cross-sections were strongly impacted by body mass and human-imposed restrictions in roaming. This demonstrates that bone cross-sections can provide information on changes in locomotor, reproductive and feeding behaviours induced by the domestication process. These results are valuable not only for (paleo) biologists studying the impact of captivity and selection in ungulates but also for archaeologists exploring the origins of domestication and early herding strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Pelletier
- Archaeology, History, Culture and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sirpa Niinimäki
- Archaeology, History, Culture and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Anna-Kaisa Salmi
- Archaeology, History, Culture and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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17
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Abstract
Giant land vertebrates have evolved more than 30 times, notably in dinosaurs and mammals. The evolutionary and biomechanical perspectives considered here unify data from extant and extinct species, assessing current theory regarding how the locomotor biomechanics of giants has evolved. In terrestrial tetrapods, isometric and allometric scaling patterns of bones are evident throughout evolutionary history, reflecting general trends and lineage-specific divergences as animals evolve giant size. Added to data on the scaling of other supportive tissues and neuromuscular control, these patterns illuminate how lineages of giant tetrapods each evolved into robust forms adapted to the constraints of gigantism, but with some morphological variation. Insights from scaling of the leverage of limbs and trends in maximal speed reinforce the idea that, beyond 100-300 kg of body mass, tetrapods reduce their locomotor abilities, and eventually may lose entire behaviours such as galloping or even running. Compared with prehistory, extant megafaunas are depauperate in diversity and morphological disparity; therefore, turning to the fossil record can tell us more about the evolutionary biomechanics of giant tetrapods. Interspecific variation and uncertainty about unknown aspects of form and function in living and extinct taxa still render it impossible to use first principles of theoretical biomechanics to tightly bound the limits of gigantism. Yet sauropod dinosaurs demonstrate that >50 tonne masses repeatedly evolved, with body plans quite different from those of mammalian giants. Considering the largest bipedal dinosaurs, and the disparity in locomotor function of modern megafauna, this shows that even in terrestrial giants there is flexibility allowing divergent locomotor specialisations.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R. Hutchinson
- Structure & Motion Lab, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA,UK
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18
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Etienne C, Houssaye A, Hutchinson JR. Limb myology and muscle architecture of the Indian rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis and the white rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum (Mammalia: Rhinocerotidae). PeerJ 2021; 9:e11314. [PMID: 34026351 PMCID: PMC8121076 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11314] [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: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Land mammals support and move their body using their musculoskeletal system. Their musculature usually presents varying adaptations with body mass or mode of locomotion. Rhinocerotidae is an interesting clade in this regard, as they are heavy animals potentially reaching three tons but are still capable of adopting a galloping gait. However, their musculature has been poorly studied. Here we report the dissection of both forelimb and hindlimb of one neonate and one adult each for two species of rhinoceroses, the Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). We show that their muscular organisation is similar to that of their relatives, equids and tapirs, and that few evolutionary convergences with other heavy mammals (e.g. elephants and hippopotamuses) are present. Nevertheless, they show clear adaptations to their large body mass, such as more distal insertions for the protractor and adductor muscles of the limbs, giving them longer lever arms. The quantitative architecture of rhino muscles is again reminiscent of that of horses and tapirs, although contrary to horses, the forelimb is much stronger than the hindlimb, which is likely due to its great role in body mass support. Muscles involved mainly in counteracting gravity (e.g. serratus ventralis thoracis, infraspinatus, gastrocnemius, flexores digitorum) are usually highly pennate with short fascicles facilitating strong joint extension. Muscles involved in propulsion (e.g. gluteal muscles, gluteobiceps, quadriceps femoris) seem to represent a compromise between a high maximal isometric force and long fascicles, allowing a reasonably fast and wide working range. Neonates present higher normalized maximal isometric force than the adults for almost every muscle, except sometimes for the extensor and propulsor muscles, which presumably acquire their great force-generating capacity during the growth of the animal. Our study clarifies the way the muscles of animals of cursorial ancestry can adapt to support a greater body mass and calls for further investigations in other clades of large body mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Etienne
- UMR 7179 Mécanismes adaptatifs et évolution (MECADEV), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- UMR 7179 Mécanismes adaptatifs et évolution (MECADEV), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - John R Hutchinson
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
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19
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Etienne C, Filippo A, Cornette R, Houssaye A. Effect of mass and habitat on the shape of limb long bones: A morpho-functional investigation on Bovidae (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla). J Anat 2020; 238:886-904. [PMID: 33210307 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Limb long bones are essential to an animal's locomotion, and are thus expected to be heavily influenced by factors such as mass or habitat. Because they are often the only organs preserved in the fossil record, understanding their adaptive trends is key to reconstructing the paleobiology of fossil taxa. In this regard, the Bovidae has always been a prized group of study. This family is extremely diverse in terms of both mass and habitat, and it is expected that their bones will possess adaptations to both factors. Here, we present the first 3D geometric morphometric study focusing on bovid limb long bones. We used anatomical landmarks as well as curve and surface sliding semi-landmarks to accurately describe the stylopod and zeugopod bones. We included 50 species from ten of the twelve currently recognized tribes of bovids, ranging from 4.6 to 725 kg, and living in open plains, forests, mountains, or anywhere in-between. Shape data were correlated with the mean mass of the species and its habitat, even when taking into account the phylogenetic history of our sample. Bones pertaining to heavy species are more robust, adapted for a better repartition of stronger forces. Articulations are especially affected, being proportionally much larger in heavier species. Muscle insertion areas are unevenly affected. Insertion areas of muscles implied in body support and propulsion show a strong increase in their robustness when compared to insertion areas of muscles acting on the limb mostly when it is off the ground. Habitat influences the shape of the humerus, the radius-ulna, and the femur, but not of the tibia, whether the phylogeny is taken into account or not. Specific habitats tend to be associated with particular features on the bones. Articulations are proportionally wider in open-habitat species, and the insertion areas of muscles involved in limb extension and propulsion are wider, reflecting the fact that open habitat species are more cursorial and rely on fast running to avoid predators. Forest and mountain species generally present similar adaptations for increased manoeuvrability, such as a round femoral head, and generally have more gracile bones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Etienne
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution (MECADEV), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Andréa Filippo
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution (MECADEV), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Raphaël Cornette
- UMR 7205, Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution (MECADEV), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
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20
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Mallet C, Billet G, Houssaye A, Cornette R. A first glimpse at the influence of body mass in the morphological integration of the limb long bones: an investigation in modern rhinoceroses. J Anat 2020; 237:704-726. [PMID: 32519813 PMCID: PMC7495277 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The appendicular skeleton of tetrapods is a particularly integrated structure due to the shared developmental origin or similar functional constraints exerted on its elements. Among these constraints, body mass is considered strongly to influence its integration but its effect on shape covariation has rarely been addressed in mammals, especially in heavy taxa. Here, we propose to explore the covariation patterns of the long bones in heavy animals and their link to body mass. We investigate the five modern rhinoceros species, which display an important range of bodyweight. We used a 3D geometric morphometric approach to describe the shape covariation of the six bones composing the stylopodium and zeugopodium both among and within species. Our results indicate that the appendicular skeleton of modern rhinos is a strongly integrated structure. At the interspecific level, the shape covariation is roughly similar between all pairs of bones and mainly concerns the muscular insertions related to powerful flexion and extension movements. The forelimb integration appears higher and more related to body mass than that of the hind limb, suggesting a specialization for weight support. The integration of the stylopodium elements does not seem to relate to body mass in our sample, which suggests a greater effect of shared developmental factors. Conversely, the covariation of the zeugopodium bones seems more associated with body mass, particularly for the radius-ulna pair. The fibula appears poorly integrated with other bones, especially within non-Rhinoceros species, which may represent a case of parcellation due to a functional dissociation between the hind limb bones. The exploration of the integration patterns at the intraspecific level also highlights a more prominent effect of age over individual body mass on shape covariation within C. simum. This study lends support to previous hypotheses indicating a link between high body mass and high integration level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Mallet
- Mécanismes adaptatifs et évolution (MECADEV)UMR 7179, MNHN, CNRSParisFrance
| | - Guillaume Billet
- Centre de Recherche en Paléontologie – Paris (CR2P)UMR CNRS 7207, MNHN, CNRSFrance
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- Mécanismes adaptatifs et évolution (MECADEV)UMR 7179, MNHN, CNRSParisFrance
| | - Raphaël Cornette
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB)UMR 7205, MNHN, CNRS, SU, EPHE, UAParisFrance
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21
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Pelletier M, Kotiaho A, Niinimäki S, Salmi AK. Identifying early stages of reindeer domestication in the archaeological record: a 3D morphological investigation on forelimb bones of modern populations from Fennoscandia. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2020; 12:169. [PMID: 32704330 PMCID: PMC7366605 DOI: 10.1007/s12520-020-01123-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Reindeer herding probably developed during the Late Iron Age onwards and is still an important part of the subsistence and culture of many peoples in northern Eurasia. However, despite the importance of this husbandry in the history of these Arctic people, the period and place of the origin as well as the spread of domestic reindeer is still highly debated. Besides the existence of different breeding methods in these territories, identifying domesticated individuals in the archaeological record is complicated because reindeers are considered to still be in the early phases of the domestication process. Indeed, the traditional morphological markers used in zooarchaeology to decipher the domestication syndrome are hardly perceptible in these early stages. In this work, we propose solutions for identifying domestic reindeer bones using 3D geometric morphometrics on isolated elements from the long bones of the forelimb (i.e. humerus, radio-ulna and metacarpal). These bones are important to understand both the feeding behaviour and the mobility of reindeer, and the potential effect of load-carrying or draught in the case of domestic reindeer. We analysed 123 modern specimens from Fennoscandia, including the two interbreeding subspecies currently present in these territories: mountain reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and forest reindeer (R.t. fennicus); and where the sex and the lifestyle were known (i.e. free-ranging, racing or draught and captive individuals). A good level of discrimination between the size and shape variables of the bones of the forelimb was found among both subspecies and sexes. Moreover, individuals bred in captivity had smaller bone elements and a thinner and more slender morphology than free-ranging individuals. This demonstrates that the long bones of the forelimb can provide information on changes in feeding and locomotor behaviour prompted by the domestication process, like control and/or reduction of mobility and food of individual reindeer by humans. This also demonstrates that analysis in 3D geometric morphometrics is useful in detecting reindeer incipient domestication markers. Our results can be used by archaeologists to trace the early stages of domestication from fossil reindeer remains, and aid in reconstructing the socio-economic changes of past Arctic populations over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Pelletier
- Archaeology, History, Culture and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Antti Kotiaho
- Department of Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sirpa Niinimäki
- Archaeology, History, Culture and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Anna-Kaisa Salmi
- Archaeology, History, Culture and Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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22
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Etienne C, Mallet C, Cornette R, Houssaye A. Influence of mass on tarsus shape variation: a morphometrical investigation among Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia: Perissodactyla). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Many tetrapod lineages show extreme increases in body mass in their evolutionary history, associated with important osteological changes. The ankle joint, essential for foot movement, is assumed to be particularly affected in this regard. We investigated the morphological adaptations of the astragalus and the calcaneus in Rhinocerotidae, and analysed them in light of a comparative analysis with other Perissodactyla. We performed 3D geometric morphometrics and correlated shape with centroid size of the bone and body mass of the species. Our results show that mass has an influence on bone shape in Rhinocerotidae and in Perissodactyla, but this is not as strong as expected. In heavy animals the astragalus has a flatter trochlea, orientated more proximally, associated with a more upright posture of the limb. The calcaneus is more robust, possibly to sustain the greater tension force exerted by the muscles during plantarflexion. Both bones show wider articular facets, providing greater cohesion and better dissipation of the loading forces. The body plan of the animals also has an influence. Short-legged Teleoceratina have a flatter astragalus than the other rhinocerotids. Paraceratherium has a thinner calcaneus than expected. This study clarifies adaptations to high body weight among Rhinocerotidae and calls for similar investigations in other groups with massive forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Etienne
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Mallet
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Raphaël Cornette
- UMR 7205, Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Ecole Publique des Hautes Etudes, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Houssaye
- UMR 7179, Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
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