Biting Performance and Skull Biomechanics of a Chisel Tooth Digging Rodent (<i>Ctenomys tuconax</i>; Caviomorpha; Octodontoidea)

Becerra, Federico; Casinos, Adriá; Vassallo, Aldo Iván

doi:10.1002/jez.1770

Cited by 40 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…The centroids coordinates, as well as those of the temporo‐mandibular joint ( TMJ ), were determined using the software ImageTool 3.0, trigonometrically integrating them into 3D coordinates from the different skull views. The length of the in‐lever arm of each adductor muscle (i.e., the perpendicular distance extending from the line of action to the TMJ ; Li ) was trigonometrically determined based upon the three‐dimensional coordinates (see Davis et al, for improvements by 3D lever modeling; Becerra et al, ). Then, a 3D in‐lever arm can be calculated by means of the following equation: Li 2 = X 2 + Y 2 + Z 2 ; where X , Y , and Z represent the in‐lever components in the three dimensional axes (i.e., anterio‐posterior, dorso‐ventral, and medio‐lateral axes).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Another one bites the dust: Bite force and ecology in three caviomorph rodents (Rodentia, Hystricognathi)

et al. 2014

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Mammals have developed sophisticated strategies adapting to particular locomotor modes, feeding habits, and social interactions. Many rodent species have acquired a fossorial, semi-fossorial, or even subterranean life-style, converging on morphological, anatomical, and ecological features but diverging in the final arrangement. These ecological variations partially depend on the functional morphology of their digging tools. Muscular and mechanical features (e.g., lever arms relationship) of the bite force were analyzed in three caviomorph rodents with similar body size but different habits and ecological demands of the jaws. In vivo forces were measured at incisors' tip using a strain gauge load cell force transducer whereas theoretical maximal performance values, mechanical advantages, and particular contribution of each adductor muscle were estimated from dissections in specimens of Ctenomys australis (subterranean, solitary), Octodon degus (semi-fossorial, social), and Chinchilla laniger (ground-dweller, colonial). Our results showed that C. australis bites stronger than expected given its small size and C. laniger exhibited the opposite outcome, while O. degus is close to the expected value based on mammalian bite force versus body mass regressions; what might be associated to the chisel-tooth digging behavior and social interactions. Our key finding was that no matter how diverse these rodents' skulls were, no difference was found in the mechanical advantage of the main adductor muscles. Therefore, interspecific differences in the bite force might be primarily due to differences in the muscular development and force, as shown for the subterranean, solitary and territorial C. australis versus the more gracile, ground-dweller, and colonial C. laniger.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Another one bites the dust: Bite force and ecology in three caviomorph rodents (Rodentia, Hystricognathi)

et al. 2014

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“…The mammalian jaw is frequently treated as a lever for the purposes of biomechanical analysis (e.g., Crompton, 1963; Bramble, 1978; Greaves, 1978; Greaves, 1982; Greaves, 2000; Gingerich, 1979; Thomason, 1991; Satoh, 1998; Satoh, 1999; Spencer, 1998; Spencer, 1999; Satoh & Iwaku, 2006; Satoh & Iwaku, 2009; Davis et al, 2010; Druzinsky, 2010; Cornette et al, 2012; Becerra, Casinos & Vassallo, 2013; Santana, 2015). More specifically, it is frequently considered to be a third-class lever i.e., one in which the input force sits between the fulcrum and the output force (Kerr, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The jaw is a second-class lever inPedetes capensis(Rodentia: Pedetidae)

Cox

2017

PeerJ

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The mammalian jaw is often modelled as a third-class lever for the purposes of biomechanical analyses, owing to the position of the resultant muscle force between the jaw joint and the teeth. However, it has been proposed that in some rodents the jaws operate as a second-class lever during distal molar bites, owing to the rostral position of the masticatory musculature. In particular, the infraorbital portion of the zygomatico-mandibularis (IOZM) has been suggested to be of major importance in converting the masticatory system from a third-class to a second-class lever. The presence of the IOZM is diagnostic of the hystricomorph rodents, and is particularly well-developed in Pedetes capensis, the South African springhare. In this study, finite element analysis (FEA) was used to assess the lever mechanics of the springhare masticatory system, and to determine the function of the IOZM. An FE model of the skull of P. capensis was constructed and loaded with all masticatory muscles, and then solved for biting at each tooth in turn. Further load cases were created in which each masticatory muscle was removed in turn. The analyses showed that the mechanical advantage of the springhare jaws was above one at all molar bites and very close to one during the premolar bite. Removing the IOZM or masseter caused a drop in mechanical advantage at all bites, but affected strain patterns and cranial deformation very little. Removing the ZM had only a small effect on mechanical advantage, but produced a substantial reduction in strain and deformation across the skull. It was concluded that the masticatory system of P. capensis acts as a second class lever during bites along almost the entire cheek tooth row. The IOZM is clearly a major contributor to this effect, but the masseter also has a part to play. The benefit of the IOZM is that it adds force without substantially contributing to strain or deformation of the skull. This may help explain why the hystricomorphous morphology has evolved multiple times independently within Rodentia.

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“…Some studies report controlling for gape by adjusting the distance between the two biting surfaces (e.g. Dumont and Herrel, 2003;Herrel and Holanova, 2008;Herrel et al, 2009;Santana et al, 2010;Measey et al, 2011;Vanhooydonck et al, 2011;Marshall et al, 2012;Becerra et al, 2013;Chazeau et al, 2013). However, the details of executing this approach successfully are not explained.…”

Section: Research Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also, on the rare occasion that a preferred gape angle is reported, differences are evident [e.g. 'about 30 degrees' (Santana and Dumont, 2009); '~10°' (Becerra et al, 2013); '10±5°' (Herrel et al, 2007)]. In any case, for such an approach to be accurate, video recording of trials is essential.…”

Section: Research Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many studies have focused on ontogenetic scaling (Erickson et al, 2003), sexual dimorphism (Herrel et al, 1999;Lappin et al, 2006b), display and signaling (Lappin et al, 2006a), reproductive output and fitness (Lappin and Husak, 2005;Husak et al, 2009), skull biomechanics and model testing (Curtis et al, 2010a;Becerra et al, 2013) and feeding behavior and diet (Binder and Van Valkenburgh, 2000;Measey et al, 2011) within a single species. In several studies multiple species have been compared, including some analyses of over 15 species Aguirre et al, 2002;van der Meij and Bout, 2004;Santana and Dumont, 2009;Vanhooydonck et al, 2010;Santana et al, 2010;Freeman and Lemen, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reliable quantification of bite-force performance requires use of appropriate biting substrate and standardization of bite out-lever

Lappin

Jones

2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Bite-force performance is an ecologically important measure of whole-organism performance that shapes dietary breadth and feeding strategies and, in some taxa, determines reproductive success. It also is a metric that is crucial to testing and evaluating biomechanical models. We reviewed nearly 100 published studies of a range of taxa that incorporate direct in vivo measurements of bite force. Problematically, methods of data collection and processing vary considerably among studies. In particular, there is little consensus on the appropriate substrate to use on the biting surface of force transducers. In addition, the bite out-lever, defined as the distance from the fulcrum (i.e. jaw joint) to the position along the jawline at which the jaws engage the transducer, is rarely taken into account. We examined the effect of bite substrate and bite out-lever on biteforce estimates in a diverse sample of lizards. Results indicate that both variables have a significant impact on the accuracy of measurements. Maximum bite force is significantly greater using leather as the biting substrate compared with a metal substrate. Lessforceful bites on metal are likely due to inhibitory feedback from mechanoreceptors that prevent damage to the feeding apparatus. Standardization of bite out-lever affected which trial produced maximum performance for a given individual. Indeed, maximum bite force is usually underestimated without standardization because it is expected to be greatest at the minimum out-lever (i.e. back of the jaws), which in studies is rarely targeted with success. We assert that future studies should use a pliable substrate, such as leather, and use appropriate standardization for bite out-lever.

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Biting Performance and Skull Biomechanics of a Chisel Tooth Digging Rodent (Ctenomys tuconax; Caviomorpha; Octodontoidea)

Cited by 40 publications

References 57 publications

Another one bites the dust: Bite force and ecology in three caviomorph rodents (Rodentia, Hystricognathi)

Another one bites the dust: Bite force and ecology in three caviomorph rodents (Rodentia, Hystricognathi)

The jaw is a second-class lever inPedetes capensis(Rodentia: Pedetidae)

Reliable quantification of bite-force performance requires use of appropriate biting substrate and standardization of bite out-lever

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