Ecological correlates of the morphology of the auditory bulla in rodents: Application to the fossil record

Scarpitti, Erica A.; Calede, Jonathan J.

doi:10.1111/joa.13579

Cited by 7 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 132 publications

(172 reference statements)

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“…Indeed, in Scarpitti and Calede (2022), the shape of auditory bullae is taken in ventral and lateral view, being more complete, contrary to our studies where only the ventral view is analysed. Furthermore, although size is not a significant parameter to infer locomotion, the shape itself of the bullae is a good factor discriminating locomotor groups (Scarpitti & Calede, 2022). Thus, it will be necessary better quantify the morphology of this structure to conclude about its possible link with locomotor habits.…”

Section: Skullmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…In addition, this result could be also due to a difference in the taxa sampled. For example, fossorial locomotion is illustrated by geomids, aplodontids and spalacids in Scarpitti and Calede (2022), and by bathyergids and spalacids with different species in this paper. So, these trends highlighted by a different sampling could indicate that the size of the auditory bullae could not be linked to a locomotor behavior, but potentially influenced by other parameters such as environmental conditions (e.g., aridity; Alhajeri & Steppan, 2018;Francescoli et al, 2012;Webster & Webster, 1975), hearing and/or mandibular apparatus development linked to a particular ecology (Alhajeri & Steppan, 2018).…”

Section: Skullmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…The morphometric studies based on rodent skull morphology are often related to functional role linked to dietary adaptations (Ginot, 2017; Maestri et al, 2016; Samuels, 2009), and few are applied to the locomotor habits of this group (Calede et al, 2019; Samuels & Valkenburgh, 2009; Scarpitti & Calede, 2022). Here, we can observe an ecological signal in the morphospace discriminations as a function of locomotion, putting forward some locomotor characteristics among the species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, we use two different analytical tools for predicting the locomotor behavior of D. luederitzi: a linear discriminant analysis and a phylogenetical flexible discriminant analysis based on both linear measurements and shapes (geometric morphometrics), using both, the skull and distal humerus morphologies. Morphometric studies using the skull of rodents are generally devoted to dietary adaptations, but few are linked to locomotion (Bertrand et al, 2015(Bertrand et al, , 2019Calede et al, 2019;Ginot, 2017;Maestri et al, 2016;Missagia & Perini, 2018;Samuels, 2009;Samuels & Valkenburgh, 2009;Scarpitti & Calede, 2022). Here, we explore several questions: (1) Is the skull a good indicator of locomotor adaptations in extant rodents?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Locomotor adaptations in the Early Miocene species Diamantomys luederitzi (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Uganda (Napak)

Costa¹,

Bardin²,

Sénut

2023

Journal of Morphology

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The study of morphological adaptations to different ecological parameters among fossil vertebrates has been an important challenge in recent decades. In this paper, we focus on the link between morphological traits and locomotor behavior such as terrestriality, fossoriality and arboreality (including gliding). One of the most diverse groups in which various locomotor habits are represented is rodents, occupying a wide range of ecological niches. This work highlights morphological variations in skulls and humerus in extant rodents with varying locomotion, to predict this parameter in the extinct species Diamantomys luederitzi (Early Miocene, Napak, Uganda). Linear discriminant analysis and phylogenetic flexible discriminant analysis are used to analyze datasets obtained via traditional morphometry (measurements) and geometric morphometrics (landmarks). The results show good discrimination between locomotor groups for both structures in extant species: the skull has a wider and longer rostrum in terrestrial and fossorial taxa compared to arboreal rodents, is also higher and posteriorly wider in fossorial taxa; the distal humerus shows elongation of the trochlea and capitulum and a higher trochlea in fossorial and terrestrial species, allowing an increase of stability instead of mobility, which is more important in arboreal taxa for movement in trees. In D. luederitzi, all skull analyses except one predicted it as a terrestrial species, the other prediction as a glider was possibly linked to the diet. For the distal humerus, this species has been predicted as a terrestrial, fossorial and arboreal taxon in differing analyses, reflected by morphological traits represented in these different locomotor categories. These varying predictions could highlight the intraspecific variation in this fossil species as well as its locomotor repertoire, raising a discussion about the use of different methods in such analyses. In addition to these predictions, several issues are discussed, such as the presence of locomotor signal in the skull and its validity in locomotor studies, as well as the relevance of the use of fragmentary material in such analyses. The results obtained in this work highlight the importance of the locomotor signal in these structures, as well as the possibility of taking into account poorly preserved material, in particular the distal humerus.

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Section: Skullmentioning

confidence: 67%

Section: Skullmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Locomotor adaptations in the Early Miocene species Diamantomys luederitzi (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Uganda (Napak)

Costa¹,

Bardin²,

Sénut

2023

Journal of Morphology

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“…More than 10 families of extant rodents show convergent adaptations to fossorial life, impacting their long bones and girdles, as well as their skull to various extents (e.g., Stein, 2000 ; Gomes Rodrigues et al in press). Subterranean rodents generally show the most extreme cranial specializations due to their more intense activity of chisel‐tooth digging (e.g., procumbent incisors and massive masticatory muscles; Fournier et al, 2021 ; Gomes Rodrigues et al, 2016 ; Landry, 1957 ; Lessa & Patton, 1989 ; Marcy et al, 2016 ; McIntosh & Cox, 2016 ) and to the constraints related to life underground (e.g., reduced eyes and pinnae; Nevo, 1979 ; Scarpitti and Calede, 2022 ; Stein, 2000 ). The morphology of subterranean rodents has been studied, but a focus on less specialized fossorial taxa would have allowed a better comprehension of the evolutionary mechanisms underlying fossorial adaptations in rodents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Incipient morphological specializations associated with fossorial life in the skull of ground squirrels (Sciuridae, Rodentia)

Rodrigues¹,

Damette²

2022

Journal of Morphology

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Anatomical and biological specializations have been studied extensively in fossorial rodents, especially in subterranean species, such as mole‐rats or pocket‐gophers. Sciurids (i.e., squirrels) are mostly known for their diverse locomotory behaviors, and encompass many arboreal species. They also include less specialized fossorial species, such as ground squirrels that are mainly scratch diggers. The skull of ground squirrels remains poorly investigated in a fossorial context, while it may reflect incipient morphological specializations associated with fossorial life, especially due to the putative use of incisors for digging in some taxa. Here, we present the results of a comparative analysis of the skull of five fossorial sciurid species, and compare those to four arboreal sciurids, one arboreal/fossorial sciurid and one specialized fossorial aplodontiid. The quantification of both cranial and mandibular shapes, using three dimensional geometric morphometrics, reveals that fossorial species clearly depart from arboreal species. Fossorial species from the Marmotini tribe, and also Xerini to a lesser extent, show widened zygomatic arches and occipital plate on the cranium, and a wide mandible with reduced condyles. These shared characteristics, which are present in the aplodontiid species, likely represent fossorial specializations rather than relaxed selection on traits related to the ancestral arboreal condition of sciurids. Such cranial and mandibular configurations combined with proodont incisors might also be related to the frequent use of incisors for digging (added to forelimbs), especially in Marmotini evolving in soft to hard soil conditions. This study provides some clues to understand the evolutionary mechanisms shaping the skull of fossorial rodents, in relation to the time spent underground and to the nature of the soil.

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Multivariate analyses of skull morphology inform the taxonomy and evolution of geomyoid rodents

Noftz

Calede

2022

Current Zoology

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Morphological analyses are critical to quantify phenotypic variation, identify taxa, inform phylogenetic relationships, and shed light on evolutionary patterns. This work is particularly important in groups that display great morphological disparity. Such is the case in geomyoid rodents, a group that includes 2 of the most species-rich families of rodents in North America: the Geomyidae (pocket gophers) and the Heteromyidae (kangaroo rats, pocket mice, and their relatives). We assessed variation in skull morphology (including both shape and size) among geomyoids to test the hypothesis that there are statistically significant differences in skull measurements at the family, genus, and species levels. Our sample includes 886 specimens representing all geomyoid genera and 39 species. We used the geometric mean to compare size across taxa. We used 14 measurements of the cranium and lower jaw normalized for size to compare shape among and within taxa. Our results show that skull measurements enable the distinction of geomyoids at the family, genus, and species levels. There is a larger amount of size variation within Geomyidae than within Heteromyidae. Our phylomorphospace analysis shows that the skull shape of the common ancestor of all geomyoids was more similar to the common ancestor of heteromyids than that of geomyids. Geomyid skulls display negative allometry whereas heteromyid skulls display positive allometry. Within heteromyids, dipodomyines, and non-dipodomyines show significantly different allometric patterns. Future analyses including fossils will be necessary to test our evolutionary hypotheses.

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Ecological correlates of the morphology of the auditory bulla in rodents: Application to the fossil record

Cited by 7 publications

References 132 publications

Locomotor adaptations in the Early Miocene species Diamantomys luederitzi (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Uganda (Napak)

Locomotor adaptations in the Early Miocene species Diamantomys luederitzi (Rodentia, Mammalia) from Uganda (Napak)

Incipient morphological specializations associated with fossorial life in the skull of ground squirrels (Sciuridae, Rodentia)

Multivariate analyses of skull morphology inform the taxonomy and evolution of geomyoid rodents

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