A three-dimensional skull ontogeny in the bobcat (Lynx rufus) (Carnivora: Felidae): a comparison with other carnivores

Abstract

The maturation of mammalian carnivores from a lactating juvenile to a predatory adult requires a suite of changes in both morphology and behaviour. Bobcats (Lynx rufus (Schreber, 1777)) are medium-sized cats with well-developed skulls to process large prey that can exceed their body mass. An integrated view of the skull ontogeny in the bobcat was developed to detect the relationship between shape, size (on the basis of three-dimensional geometric morphometric analysis), and life history. Dietary changes from juvenile to adults were taken into account and compared with other carnivores. Newborns were different from the remaining age stages in the behavioral and morphological characters examined, which allows us to relate them to the terminal morphology reached during the prenatal period. All findings were related to the reinforcement of the skull and the enhancement of predatory skills in adult bobcats. The final cranial shape is reached in A2 age class, after 2 years of age, and once sexual maturity has been reached. This is a pattern not followed for the rest of carnivores previously studied, which might be related to the capacity of subduing prey that exceed them in size, a behavior not common in felids of the body size of bobcats.

Three-dimensional cranial ontogeny in pantherines (Panthera leo,P. onca,P. pardus,P. tigris; Carnivora:, Felidae)

“…Therefore, the changes observed in the crania of Pantherines imply the negative allometry of neurocranium (braincase, orbits and auditory bulla) and positive allometry of splanchnocranium (rostrum, palate). These patterns were previously recognized and reported in felids using different methodologies (Biknevicius & Leigh, 1997;Segura & Flores, 2009;Slater & Van Valkenburgh, 2009;Giannini et al, 2010;Prevosti, Turazzini & Chemisquy, 2010;Segura et al, 2013;Segura, 2015) and seem to be plesiomorphic to mammals (Emerson & Bramble, 1993).…”

“…A generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA: Goodall, 1991;Rohlf, 1999) was performed to N, newborns; B, babies; J, juveniles; A, adults; estimated by dental eruption and tooth wear, and described by Segura (2015). The numbers indicate females, males, and unsexed specimens, respectively.…”

“…The sample consisted of 370 specimens of four species of the Panthera lineage, and comprised juveniles and adults of different age classes (N: newborns, B: babies, J: juveniles, A: adults), estimated by dental eruption and tooth wear (Segura, 2015; …”

“…: Garc ıa-Perea, 1996;Lynx rufus: Crowe, 1975;Tumlison & McDaniel, 1984;Jackson, Gluesing & Jacobson, 1988;Johnson, Brown & Bosomworth, 1981; Prionailurus bengalensis: Nakanishi et al, 2009;Puma concolor: Biknevicius, 1996;Biknevicius & Leigh, 1997;Gay & Best, 1996;Laundr e et al, 2000;Shaw et al, 2007). In addition some groups (Segura & Flores, 2009;Giannini et al, 2010;Segura et al, 2013;Segura, 2015) studied the ontogenetic changes and their functional consequences in Acinonyx jubatus, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Lynx rufus and Puma concolor. The patterns of cranial ontogeny have been investigated in Pantherines using a descriptive approach that focused on general information about breeding in P. tigris (Sankhala, 1967), growth of body mass (in Pantherines: Carvalho, 1968;P.…”

Allometry and advancing age significantly structure craniofacial variation in adult female baboons

“…Whether such a pattern extends to other mammalian orders largely remains to be seen, although there is some evidence for variation in both adolescent and post-maturational growth patterns of the carnivoran CFS, with some felid genera developing past the age of sexual maturity (e.g. Segura & Prevosti, 2012;Segura et al 2013;Segura, 2015).…”