Facing the facts: adaptive trade‐offs along body size ranges determine mammalian craniofacial scaling

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 99(2), С. 496 - 524

Опубликована: Ноя. 29, 2023

The mammalian cranium (skull without lower jaw) is representative of diversity and thus particular interest to biologists across disciplines. One widely retrieved pattern accompanying cranial diversification referred as 'craniofacial evolutionary allometry' (CREA). This posits that adults larger species, in a group closely related mammals, tend have relatively longer faces smaller braincases. However, no process has been officially suggested explain this pattern, there are many apparent exceptions, its predictions potentially conflict with well-established biomechanical principles. Understanding the mechanisms behind CREA causes for deviations from therefore tremendous potential allometry cranium. Here, we propose an amended framework characterise more clearly, 'longer faces' can arise through several kinds change, including elongation rostrum, retraction jaw muscles, or narrow shallow skull, which all result generalised gracilisation facial skeleton increased size. We define standardised workflow test presence using allometric shape derived geometric morphometrics analysis, apply 22 families marsupials, rabbits, rodents, bats, carnivores, antelopes, whales. Our results show increasing gracility size common, but not necessarily ubiquitous previously suggested. To address mechanistic basis variation, then review adaptations harder biting. These dictate gracile species must represent structural sacrifice ability produce withstand bites, relative leads us often product bite force phylogenetic niche conservatism, where exhibit similar feeding ecology biting behaviours and, therefore, absolute (size-independent) requirements. Since same forces less effort, relaxed demands permit response bone optimisation alternative selection pressures. Thus, scaling represents adaptive by-product shifting importance selective pressures occurring A reverse 'shortening' accordingly also be found, cases here, incorporate novel involving greater forces. discuss multiple exceptions force-mediated influence on proportions mammals lead argue ecomorphological specialisation likely primary driver patterns, some developmental constraints possible secondary factors. wider range functions when constrained by might why sizes seems prevalent clades. interplay between adaptation constraint ranges presents interesting consideration mechanistically grounded investigation allometry.

Язык: Английский

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Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Skulls Using Radiometric Techniques at Three and Six Months of Development

Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 152374 - 152374

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Craniofacial modularity and the evolution of cranial kinesis in the adaptive radiation of Furnariidae (Aves: Passeriformes)

Evolution, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 29, 2025

The role of phenotypic modularity in the evolution skull morphology birds has been a subject debate recent years. Furnariids (ovenbirds and woodcreepers), spectacular avian adaptive radiation, are distinguished their cranial as only passerines with two types kinesis, constituting great model to test whether novelties linked kinesis was associated shifts patterns evolutionary allometry skull. Our analyses by means geometric morphometric tools phylogenetic comparative methods show that beak neurocranium furnariids evolved modular fashion shaped evolution. Besides, species prokinesis higher degree morphological disparity, lower rates, well contribution than proximal rhynchokinesis, suggesting, observed several vertebrates, functional demands degrees promoted rapid integration throughout Prokinetic - robust morphotypes rhynchokinetic gracile morphotypes, have repeatedly convergence both modules, which suggests existence trade-offs long-standing optima related kinesis.

Язык: Английский

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Diversity in owls’ (Strigiformes) hindlimbs: evolutionary and ecological influences on hindlimb bone proportions and their relation to prey preferences

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 203(4)

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2025

Abstract In Strigiformes, which comprise the Tytonidae and Strigidae families, hindlimbs play a crucial role in prey capture. Yet, their bone proportions remain understudied despite established link between avian hindlimb skeletal morphology ecological traits. We examined of femur, tibiotarsus, tarsometatarsus 18 owl species, investigating associations with preferences, body mass, phylogenetic signals. Our results indicate that owls generally have short femur tarsometatarsus, relatively long all exhibiting isometric scaling relative to mass. Although evolutionary inheritance influences proportions, become apparent when three bones are considered together, highlighting adaptations associated dietary demands. For instance, barn facilitates swift movement dense environments, aiding capture small rodents; whereas burrowing owls, it enhances terrestrial locomotion. The remaining species exhibited strength responds various biological demands, enabling different types sizes, or improving stability during perching. findings suggest diverged preferences early evolution, specializing on rodents evolving from insectivory more generalized mammals-based diets.

Язык: Английский

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Developmental origin underlies evolutionary rate variation across the placental skull

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 378(1880)

Опубликована: Май 15, 2023

The placental skull has evolved into myriad forms, from longirostrine whales to globular primates, and with a diverse array of appendages antlers tusks. This disparity recently been studied the perspective whole skull, but is composed numerous elements that have distinct developmental origins varied functions. Here, we assess evolution skull's major skeletal elements, decomposed 17 individual regions. Using high-dimensional morphometric approach for dataset 322 living extinct eutherians (placental mammals their stem relatives), quantify patterns variation estimate phylogenetic, allometric ecological signal across skull. We further compare rates categories ordinal-level clades reconstruct along lineages through time whether origin or function discriminate evolutionary trajectories cranial elements. Our results demonstrate macroevolutionary reflect adaptations clades. Elements derived neural crest show fastest evolution, equally pronounced in bones paraxial mesoderm, suggesting may influence tempo, not capacity specialisation. article part theme issue ‘The mammalian skull: development, structure function’.

Язык: Английский

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Functionally mediated cranial allometry evidenced in a genus of rock-wallabies

Biology Letters, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 20(3)

Опубликована: Март 1, 2024

In assessments of skeletal variation, allometry (disproportionate change shape with size) is often corrected to examine size-independent variation for hypotheses relating function. However, size-related trade-offs in functional demands may themselves be an underestimated driver mammalian cranial diversity. Here, we use geometric morphometrics alongside dental measurements assess craniodental the rock-wallaby genus Petrogale (all 17 species, 370 individuals). We identified aspects evolutionary that can both extensions of, and correlated negatively with, static or ontogenetic allometric patterns. Regarding constraints, larger species tended have relatively smaller braincases more posterior orbits, former which might represent a constraint on jaw muscle anatomy. they also anterior dentition zygomatic arches, support hypothesis relaxed bite force accommodation different selective pressures favour facial elongation. By contrast, two dwarf had stouter crania divergent adaptations together suggest increased relative capacity. This likely allows them feed forage mechanically similar consumed by relatives. Our results highlight need nuanced considerations patterns future research

Язык: Английский

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Freshwater Habitats Promote Rapid Rates of Phenotypic Evolution in Sculpin Fishes (Perciformes: Cottoidea)

The American Naturalist, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 204(4), С. 345 - 360

Опубликована: Июнь 13, 2024

AbstractInvasions of freshwater habitats by marine fishes provide exceptional cases habitat-driven biological diversification. Freshwater make up less than 1% aquatic but contain ∼50% fish species. However, while the dominant group (Otophysi) is older that most (Percomorphaceae), it morphologically diverse. Classically, scientists have invoked differences in tempo and/or mode evolution to explain such unequal morphological We tested for evidence these phenomena superfamily Cottoidea (sculpins), which contains substantial radiations and fishes. find morphology sculpins evolves faster under higher constraint sculpins, causing widespread convergence more disparity sculpins. The endemic Lake Baikal, Siberia, are exceptions demonstrate elevated novelty akin Several tantalizing factors may findings, as habitat stability connectivity between systems.

Язык: Английский

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Conical and sabertoothed cats as an exception to craniofacial evolutionary allometry

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 13(1)

Опубликована: Авг. 21, 2023

Abstract Among evolutionary trends shaping phenotypic diversity over macroevolutionary scales, CREA (CRaniofacial Evolutionary Allometry) describes a tendency, among closely related species, for the smaller-sized of group to have proportionally shorter rostra and larger braincases. Here, we used phylogenetically broad cranial dataset, 3D geometric morphometrics, phylogenetic comparative methods assess validity strength in extinct living felids. To test influence biomechanical constraints, quantified impact relative canine height on shape evolution. Our results provided support at family level. Yet, whereas felines rule, big cats, like Pantherinae Machairodontinae, conform weakly if not all with predictions. findings suggest that Machairodontinae constitute one first well-supported exceptions this biological rule currently known, probably response demands developmental changes linked their peculiar rostral adaptations. acquisition extreme features concerning biomechanics, evo-devo and/or ecology is likely be associated patterns morphological evolution, determining potential common rules, instance, by inducing variations integration due heterochronic under ratchet-like

Язык: Английский

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Scaling patterns of body plans differ among squirrel ecotypes

PeerJ, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 11, С. e14800 - e14800

Опубликована: Янв. 25, 2023

Body size is often hypothesized to facilitate or constrain morphological diversity in the cranial, appendicular, and axial skeletons. However, how overall body shape scales with ( i.e. , allometry) whether these scaling patterns differ between ecological groups remains poorly investigated. Here, we test relationships shape, size, limb lengths among species different locomotor specializations, describe underlying components that contribute evolution squirrel (Sciuridae) ecotypes. We quantified of 87 from osteological specimens held at museum collections. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, first found its scale allometrically but allometric ecotypes: chipmunks gliding squirrels exhibited more elongate bodies increasing sizes whereas ground robust size. Second, only exhibit a relationship forelimb length where relatively shorter forelimbs. Third, relative ribs elongation shortening thoracic region contributes most across squirrels. Overall, our work growing understanding mammalian it influenced by ecology, this case subterranean gracile

Язык: Английский

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Prenatal growth patterns of the upper jaw complex with implications for laryngeal echolocation in bats

Journal of Anatomy, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Окт. 28, 2024

Abstract Craniofacial morphology is extremely diversified within bat phylogeny, however growth and development of the palate in bats remains unstudied. The formation both midline bilateral orofacial clefts laryngeally echolocating bats, morphologically similar to syndromic non‐syndromic cleft humans, are not well understood. Developmental series prenatal samples ( n = 128) adults 10) eight species (two pteropodids, four rhinolophoids, two yangochiropterans), non‐bat mammals Mus musculus Erinaceus amurensis ), were CT‐scanned cranial bones forming upper jaw complex three‐dimensionally visualised assess whether differences can be observed across phylogeny. Volumetric data composing measured quantify growth. premaxilla relatively reduced compared other its shape heterogeneous depending on presence type palatine process premaxillary lacking pteropodids yangochiropterans, whereas a mobile structure which only contact caudally with maxilla by fibrous membrane or suture rhinolophoids. In all maxillary progressively extend bones, some cases split into three branches, so that they completely fused another one medially prior birth. Ossification vomer fusion occur earlier rhinolophoids than yangochiropterans. ossifies bilaterally from different ossification centres uncommon mammals. Analysis ontogenetic allometric trajectories revealed faster maxillary, vomer, yangochiropterans especially Ancestral state reconstruction have higher magnitude change rate E. lower M. bats. This study provides new evidence heterochronic shifts craniofacial phylogeny improve understanding developmental characterising nasal oral emission strategies.

Язык: Английский

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