Integration or modularity in the mandible of canids (Carnivora: Canidae): A geometric morphometric approach

SEGURA V.; CASSINI G.; PREVOSTI F.J.; MACHADO, FABIO

JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2021 vol. 28 p. 145 - 157

1064-7554

Understandingthe interplay between morphological integration and modularity is considered animportant topic in the study of the evolution of the form of complexstructures. The mandible is a complex structure that can be shaped by diversefactors such as ontogeny, ecology, and evolutionary history. In Canids, this isparticularly interesting because they have a large diversity in feedingbehavior and hunting strategy. Here, we employed geometric morphometricstechniques to evaluate the balance between integration and modularity in 1011mandibles of a sample of extinct and extant canids. The results show thatallometric scaling seems to have little influence in determining the mandibularshape of canids. Some divergence associated with ecology was observed,especially for highly specialized taxa (hypercarnivores and insectivores).Finally, macroevolutionary patterns were more integrated than intraspecificpatterns, suggesting that correlational selection might play a strong role inthe evolution of mandibular form and function. We found no evidence of anevolutionary line of least resistance in shaping mandible disparity.