New gliding mammaliaforms from the Jurassic

Meng, Qingjin; Grossnickle, David M.; Liu, Di; Zhang, Yuguang; Neander, April I.; Ji, Qiang; Luo, Zhe‐Xi

doi:10.1038/nature23476

Cited by 77 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…However, the discovery of a calcar in a Mesozoic mammaliaform (Meng et al. ) raises the possibility of a deep homological explanation for the origin of the calcar (Shubin et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anatomical diversification of a skeletal novelty in bat feet

2019

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Neomorphic, membrane‐associated skeletal rods are found in disparate vertebrate lineages, but their evolution is poorly understood. Here we show that one of these elements—the calcar of bats (Chiroptera)—is a skeletal novelty that has anatomically diversified. Comparisons of evolutionary models of calcar length and corresponding disparity‐through‐time analyses indicate that the calcar diversified early in the evolutionary history of Chiroptera, as bats phylogenetically diversified after evolving the capacity for flight. This interspecific variation in calcar length and its relative proportion to tibia and forearm length is of functional relevance to flight‐related behaviors. We also find that the calcar varies in its tissue composition among bats, which might affect its response to mechanical loading. We confirm the presence of a synovial joint at the articulation between the calcar and the calcaneus in some species, which suggests the calcar has a kinematic functional role. Collectively, this functionally relevant variation suggests that adaptive advantages provided by the calcar led to its anatomical diversification. Our results demonstrate that novel skeletal additions can become integrated into vertebrate body plans and subsequently evolve into a variety of forms, potentially impacting clade diversification by expanding the available morphological space into which organisms can evolve.

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“…However, the discovery of a calcar in a Mesozoic mammaliaform (Meng et al. ) raises the possibility of a deep homological explanation for the origin of the calcar (Shubin et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), and the calcar of Maiopatagium furculiferum , a haramiyid mammaliaform (Meng et al. ). Because these skeletal rods are now known from disparate amniote lineages, they seem less like evolutionary oddities than consequential skeletal novelties characteristic of the skin membranes of volant body plans.…”

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confidence: 99%

Anatomical diversification of a skeletal novelty in bat feet

2019

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“…A further benefit of identifying strong links between ecologies and morphologies is that these associations provide critical tools for evolutionary studies, helping researchers to reconstruct paleoecologies of fossil taxa (Meng et al. ; Olsen ; Chen et al. ), examine macroevolutionary patterns in major clades (Grossnickle and Polly ; Mitchell and Makovicky ), and reconstruct paleoenvironments (Vermillion et al.…”

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confidence: 99%

Feeding ecology has a stronger evolutionary influence on functional morphology than on body mass in mammals

Grossnickle

2020

Evolution

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Ecological specialization is a central driver of adaptive evolution. However, selective pressures may uniquely affect different ecomorphological traits (e.g., size and shape), complicating efforts to investigate the role of ecology in generating phenotypic diversity. Comparative studies can help remedy this issue by identifying specific relationships between ecologies and morphologies, thus elucidating functionally relevant traits. Jaw shape is a dietary correlate that offers considerable insight on mammalian evolution, but few studies have examined the influence of diet on jaw morphology across mammals. To this end, I apply phylogenetic comparative methods to mandibular measurements and dietary data for a diverse sample of mammals. Especially powerful predictors of diet are metrics that capture either the size of the angular process, which increases with greater herbivory, or the length of the posterior portion of the jaw, which decreases with greater herbivory. The size of the angular process likely reflects sizes of attached muscles that produce jaw movements needed to grind plant material. Further, I examine the impact of feeding ecology on body mass, an oft‐used ecological surrogate in macroevolutionary studies. Although body mass commonly increases with evolutionary shifts to herbivory, it is outperformed by functional jaw morphology as a predictor of diet. Body mass is influenced by numerous factors beyond diet, and it may be evolutionarily labile relative to functional morphologies. This suggests that ecological diversification events may initially facilitate body mass diversification at smaller taxonomic and temporal scales, but sustained selective pressures will subsequently drive greater trait partitioning in functional morphologies.

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“…Qishou jizantang (Mao & Meng, 2019a) is dentally similar to Shenshou (Bi et al ) and Maiopatagium (Meng et al ), although the tooth occlusal patterns are considerably different between Qishou and Shenshou on the one hand and Maiopatagium on the other (Mao & Meng, 2019b). Only the ectotympanic is preserved on the left side of the basicranium (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparative study on auditory and hyoid bones of Jurassic euharamiyidans and contrasting evidence for mammalian middle ear evolution

et al. 2019

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The holotypes of euharamiyidan Arboroharamiya allinhopsoni and Arboroharamiya jenkinsi preserve the auditory and hyoid bones, respectively. With additional structures revealed by micro‐computerized tomography (CT) and X‐ray micro‐computed laminography (CL), we provide a detailed description of these minuscule bones. The stapes in the two species of Arboroharamiya are similar in having a strong process for insertion of the stapedius muscle. The incus is similar in having an almond‐shaped body and a slim short process, in addition to a robust stapedial process with a short lenticular process preserved in A. allinhopsoni. The plate‐like ectotympanic in the two species of Arboroharamiya is similar and comparable to that of Qishou jizantang. The surangular in the two species has a fan‐shaped body and a needle‐shaped anterior process. The malleus, ectotympanic, and surangular are fully detached from the dentary and should have functioned exclusively for hearing. All the auditory bones of Arboroharamiya display unique features unknown in other mammaliaforms. Moreover, hyoid elements are found in the two species of Arboroharamiya and co‐exist with the five auditory bones in the holotype of A. allinhopsoni. The element interpreted as the stylohyal is similar to the bone identified as the ectotympanic in Vilevolodon. We reconstruct the auditory apparatus of Arboroharamiya and compare it with that of Vilevolodon as well as those in extant mammals and basal mammaliaforms. The comparison shows diverse morphological patterns of the auditory region in mammaliaforms. In particular, those of Vilevolodon and Arboroharamiya differ significantly: the former has a mandibular middle ear, whereas the latter possesses a definitive mammalian middle ear. It is puzzling that the two sympatric and dentally similar taxa have such different auditory apparatuses. In light of the available evidence, we argue that the mandibular middle ear reconstructed in Vilevolodon encounters many problems, and the so‐called ectotympanic in Vilevolodon may be interpreted as a stylohyal; thus, the dilemma can be resolved.

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New gliding mammaliaforms from the Jurassic

Cited by 77 publications

References 41 publications

Anatomical diversification of a skeletal novelty in bat feet

Anatomical diversification of a skeletal novelty in bat feet

Feeding ecology has a stronger evolutionary influence on functional morphology than on body mass in mammals

A comparative study on auditory and hyoid bones of Jurassic euharamiyidans and contrasting evidence for mammalian middle ear evolution

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