A possible function for an enigmatic synapomorphy of Didelphis

Giannini, Norberto P.; Gaudioso, Pablo Javier; Flores, David A.; Gaudin, Timothy J.

doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2010.06.001

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The Plio‐Pleistocene Great American Biotic Interchange later brought many lineages of placental carnivorans to South America (Forasiepi et al 2007). It has been hypothesised that large didelphids, particularly Didelphis , coped with carnivorans by accumulating defensive skills and anatomical traits, including catatonia and an armoured axial skeleton (Giannini et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of diet in extant marsupials: emergent patterns from a broad phylogenetic perspective

Amador

Giannini

2020

Mammal Review

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Extant marsupials are highly diverse, both morphologically and ecologically. As a key ecological factor, diet has been studied in marsupials at the species level. However, a general lack of phylogenetic integration has resulted in macroevolutionary patterns of diet remaining largely unexplored in the group. We review dietary information for extant marsupials and present the results of an evolutionary analysis in an explicit phylogenetic framework. We compiled dietary data from diverse sources, coding characters in four dietary schemes. We reconstructed ancestral states of predominant diet and dietary shifts during marsupial evolution, by using a published, dated phylogeny that includes 193 extant species representing 97% of genera. The ancestral diet was predominant insectivory. Most frequent transitions occurred towards carnivory, since the late Eocene. By contrast, the shift towards browse herbivory occurred only once, in Australasia, in Diprotodontia, as early as the Palaeocene. The browse herbivorous ancestor gave rise to several other herbivore strategies, as well as to the predominant mycophagy that evolved in Potoroidae. In the Americas, only one extant marsupial clade evolved predominant herbivory (frugivory in Caluromyinae). We found omnivory to be a derived dietary strategy that occurred in both American and Australasian lineages. Temporal and geographic patterns of marsupial dietary diversification appear to be dependent on major palaeoclimatic events and on concurrent diversification of other (placental) clades. The higher frequency of transitions from an insectivorous ancestor towards carnivory might be related to the minor anatomical, physiological and molecular changes required by a transition within an animalivory (protein‐based) dietary gradient, in contrast with major changes required by shifts towards herbivory (carbohydrate‐based diet). The contrasting evolutionary patterns of diet between marsupials in the Americas and Australasia may be explained, at least partially, by the radically different faunas with which marsupials from each region interacted during their parallel evolutionary history.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of diet in extant marsupials: emergent patterns from a broad phylogenetic perspective

Amador

Giannini

2020

Mammal Review

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“…There are morphological differences between taxa beyond body size, and are associated with variance on function and behavioral aspects of each species. Recent detailed analyses are showing that some of the taxa used as models (usually the larger taxa such as Didelphis ) may not always be the more adequate ones ( Astúa 2009 ), as they have several derived character states in skeletal features (e.g., Flores 2009 , Giannini et al 2011 ). Even within a single genus, cranial shape has features that are strongly linked to size, whereas others seem to vary regardless of size ( Astúa 2015b ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Orbit orientation in didelphid marsupials (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)

Pilatti

Astúa

2016

Curr Zool

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Usually considered a morphologically conservative group, didelphid marsupials present considerable variation in ecology and body size, some of which were shown to relate to morphological structures. Thus, changes on orbit morphology are likely and could be related to that variation. We calculated orbit orientation in 873 specimens of 16 Didelphidae genera yielding estimates of orbits convergence (their position relative to midsagittal line) and verticality (their position relative to frontal plane). We then compared similarities in these variables across taxa to ecological, morphological and phylogenetic data to evaluate the influencing factors on orbit orientation in didelphids. We found an inverse relation between convergence and verticality. Didelphids orbits have low verticality but are highly convergent, yet orbit orientation differs significantly between taxa, and that variation is related to morphological aspects of the cranium. Rostral variables are the only morphological features correlated with orbit orientation: increasing snout length yields more convergent orbits, whereas increase on snout breadth imply in more vertical orbits. Size and encephalization quotients are uncorrelated with orbit orientation. Among ecological data, diet showed significant correlation whereas locomotion is the factor that less affects the position of orbits. Phylogeny is uncorrelated to any orbital parameters measured. Ecological factors seemingly play a more important role on orbit orientation than previously expected, and differentiation on orbit orientation seems to be more functional than inherited. Thus, despite the apparent homogeneity on didelphid morphology, there is subtle morphological variability that may be directly related to feeding behavior.

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Morphology, Form, and Function in Didelphid Marsupials

Astúa

Guilhon

2022

American and Australasian Marsupials

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A possible function for an enigmatic synapomorphy of Didelphis

Cited by 7 publications

References 8 publications

Evolution of diet in extant marsupials: emergent patterns from a broad phylogenetic perspective

Evolution of diet in extant marsupials: emergent patterns from a broad phylogenetic perspective

Orbit orientation in didelphid marsupials (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae)

Morphology, Form, and Function in Didelphid Marsupials

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