Large morphological transitions underlie exceptional shape diversification in an adaptive radiation

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Dec. 30, 2024

Adaptive radiations are characterized by an increase in species and/or phenotypic diversity as organisms fill open ecological niches. Often, the putative adaptive radiation has been studied without explicit comparison to patterns and rates of evolution closely related clades, leaving question whether notable changes evolutionary process indeed occurred at origin group. Anolis lizards oft-used model for investigating tempo mode radiations. Most prior research on diversification morphology focused post-cranium because its significance towards subdivision arboreal habitat. But remarkable head shape anoles not thoroughly investigated. It remains unknown or changed diversified. We performed geometric morphometric analysis skull across a sample 12 Iguanian families (110 species), including anoles. occupy unique area wider region morphological space compared 11 other examined. did find difference rate between their relatives. Rather, extraordinary amount arose through distinct evolution; moved into novel regions relatively large transitions Our results demonstrate that traits directly tied shift lineage spaces may undergo exceptional change clade diversifies.

Language: Английский

Sizing Up Skull Allometry

Published: March 21, 2024

In this seminar, I discuss how the overall size of an animal influences function its skull, and role can play in diversity skull shapes seen mammals. outline recent developments our understanding allometry (size-related changes) function, emphasise that is underestimated driver functional adaptation. Because variation often extracted from shape data to examine adaptive patterns, some size-correlated relating might frequently be missed. latest publication with *Biology Letters*, we analysed skulls teeth 370 Australian rock-wallabies (Macropodidae: *Petrogale*), representing all 17 species. We show across species correlated positively, or negatively, within at different parts these regions related biomechanics feeding. suggest allometric patterns receive more scrutiny regarding their function.

Language: Английский

Postnatal Skull Development Reveals a Conservative Pattern in Living and Fossil Vizcachas Genus Lagostomus (Rodentia, Chinchillidae)

Journal of Morphology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 285(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT The plains vizcacha, Lagostomus maximus , is the only living species in genus, being notably larger than fossil congeneric species, such as incisus from Pliocene of Argentina and Uruguay. Here, we compare skull growth allometric pattern sexual dimorphism L. relating shape size changes with function. We also test whether ontogenetic trajectories trends between both sexes follow same pattern. A common was elongation skull, a product lengthening rostrum, chondrogenesis on spheno‐occipitalis synchondrosis coronalis suture. detected low proportion suture fusion. In some variables, older male specimens did not represent simple linear extension female trajectory, all dimorphic traits were related to development masticatory muscles. Sexual previously attributed would indicate that this phenomenon present genus since early suggests social behaviors polygyny male‐male competition. Ontogenetic similar showing conservative condition genus. Only two different ontogeny which appeared earlier compared : frontal process nasals square shape, straight occipital bone lateral view. Juveniles close adult morphospace, suggesting peramorphic process. sequence synchondroses fusion showed minor differences temporozygomatica frontonasalis sutures, indicating major mechanical stress size. suggest generalized path Chinchillidae, but further analyses are necessary at an evolutionary level, including Lagidium Chinchilla .

Language: Английский