Integration or Modularity in the Mandible of Canids (Carnivora: Canidae): a Geometric Morphometric Approach

SEGURA, VALENTINA; CASSINI, GUILLERMO H.; PREVOSTI, FRANCISCO J.; MACHADO, FABIO ANDRADE

JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2021

1064-7554

Understanding the interplay between morphological integration and modularity is considered an important topic in the study ofthe evolution of the form of complex structures. The mandible is a complex structure that can be shaped by diverse factors such asontogeny, ecology, and evolutionary history. In canids, this is particularly interesting because they have a large diversity infeeding behavior and hunting strategy. Here, we employed geometric morphometric techniques to evaluate the balance betweenintegration and modularity in 1011 mandibles of a sample of extinct and extant canids. The results show that allometric scalingseems to have little influence in determining the mandibular shape of canids. Some divergence associated with ecology wasobserved, especially for highly specialized taxa (hypercarnivores and insectivores). Finally, macroevolutionary patterns weremore integrated than intraspecific patterns, suggesting that correlational selection might play a strong role in the evolution ofmandibular form and function. We found no evidence of an evolutionary line of least resistance in shaping mandible disparity