Convergent evolution of forelimb-propelled swimming in seals

Hocking, David P.; Marx, Felix G.; Wang, Shibo; Burton, David; Thompson, Mark C.; Park, Travis; Burville, Ben; Richards, Hazel L.; Sattler, Renae; Robbins, J B; Miguez, Roberto Portela; Fitzgerald, Erich M. G.; Slip, David J.; Evans, Alistair R.

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.019

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…While they present several adaptations for swimming and diving, pinnipeds still have some capacity to move on land, where they perform important activities, such as mating and giving birth 25 . Phocids swim using pelvic oscillation to generate thrust (hindlimb-dominated swimmers) [26][27][28][29] and they exhibit a terrestrial locomotion like the movement of caterpillars 30 . Accordingly, the anterior region of the phocid column forms a rigid torso, and most of the intervertebral flexibility is restricted to the posterior region, which possess large epaxial muscles 31 .…”

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confidence: 99%

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The impact of the land-to-sea transition on evolutionary integration and modularity of the pinniped backbone

Esteban,

Martín-Serra,

Pérez-Ramos

et al. 2023

Commun Biol

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In this study, we investigate how the terrestrial-aquatic transition influenced patterns of axial integration and modularity in response to the secondary adaptation to a marine lifestyle. We use 3D geometric morphometrics to quantify shape covariation among presacral vertebrae in pinnipeds (Carnivora; Pinnipedia) and to compare with patterns of axial integration and modularity in their close terrestrial relatives. Our results indicate that the vertebral column of pinnipeds has experienced a decrease in the strength of integration among all presacral vertebrae when compared to terrestrial carnivores (=fissipeds). However, separate integration analyses among the speciose Otariidae (i.e., sea lions and fur seals) and Phocidae (i.e., true seals) also suggests the presence of different axial organizations in these two groups of crown pinnipeds. While phocids present a set of integrated “thoracic” vertebrae, the presacral vertebrae of otariids are characterized by the absence of any set of vertebrae with high integration. We hypothesize that these differences could be linked to their specific modes of aquatic locomotion –i.e., pelvic vs pectoral oscillation. Our results provide evidence that the vertebral column of pinnipeds has been reorganized from the pattern observed in fissipeds but is more complex than a simple “homogenization” of the modular pattern of their close terrestrial relatives.

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“…refs. [27][28][29][30][31][32][33] ) and they walk on land using all fours in quadrupedal gaits 30 . Therefore, the axial skeleton of otariids is much more flexible than that of phocids and, in general, the otariids present more developed hypaxial musculature than epaxial musculature, particularly at the posterior region of the column 31 .…”

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confidence: 99%

The impact of the land-to-sea transition on evolutionary integration and modularity of the pinniped backbone

Esteban,

Martín-Serra,

Pérez-Ramos

et al. 2023

Commun Biol

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“…6). Some pinnipeds like otariids also adopt underwater flight [171, 172]. The extension range of their glenohumeral joints is limited, leading to asymmetric strokes during swimming: the downstroke is propulsive, and the upstroke is a passive recovery [173, 174].…”

Section: Preliminaries To Plesiosaur Reconstructionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body reconstruction and size estimation of plesiosaurs

Zhao

2024

Preprint

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Body size is the key to understanding many biological properties. Sizes of extinct animals are usually estimated from body reconstructions since their masses can not be weighed directly. Plesiosaurs were Mesozoic marine reptiles that were diverse in both body plan and size. Attempts to estimate body masses of plesiosaurs were rare in the past two centuries, possibly due to lack of knowledge about their postcranial anatomy and body shapes in life. The burst of plesiosaur studies in the past two decades has greatly expanded our cognition of their physiology, taxonomy, potential behavior and even soft body outlines. Here I present a comprehensive review of relevant knowledge, and propose a uniform set of methodology for rigorous body reconstruction of plesiosaurs. Twenty-two plesiosaur models were constructed under these criteria, and they were subsequently used as samples to find proxies for body mass. It is revealed that multiple skeletal elements are good indicators of plesiosaur size. This study offers scaling equations for size estimation, enabling quick acquisition of body mass information from fragmented fossils. A summary of body size evolution of different plesiosaur clades is also provided.

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“…The specimen was donated to Museums Victoria and registered in the Mammalogy collections as NMV C39957. After collection, the specimen was stored at −20°C until it was thawed for dissection (the specimen had previously undergone a freeze–thaw cycle for another study, see Hocking et al, 2021). A full‐body dissection of NMV C39957 was done from April 4–5, 2022.…”

Section: Measurement Metricmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditional and digital examination of the baculum of a leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)

Rule,

Richards,

Pollock

et al. 2023

Marine Mammal Science

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Convergent evolution of forelimb-propelled swimming in seals

Cited by 8 publications

References 27 publications

The impact of the land-to-sea transition on evolutionary integration and modularity of the pinniped backbone

The impact of the land-to-sea transition on evolutionary integration and modularity of the pinniped backbone

Body reconstruction and size estimation of plesiosaurs

Traditional and digital examination of the baculum of a leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)

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