Sagittal crest morphology decoupled from relative bite performance in Pleistocene tapirs(Perissodactyla:Tapiridae)  

作　　者：Lisa VAN LINDEN Kim STOOPS Larissa C.C.S.DUMBÁ Mario A.COZZUOL Jamie A.MACLAREN 

机构地区：[1]Functional Morphology Lab,Department of Biology,Campus Drie Eiken,Universiteit Antwerpen,Antwerpen,Belgium [2]Departamento de Zoologia,Instituto de Ciências Biológicas,Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais,Minas Gerais,Brazil [3]Evolution and Diversity Dynamics Lab,Department of Geology,Universitéde Liège,Quartier Agora,Liège,Belgium

出　　处：《Integrative Zoology》2023年第2期254-277,共24页整合动物学（英文版）

摘　　要：Bite force is often associated with specific morphological features,such as sagittal crests.The presence of a pro-nounced sagittal crest in some tapirs(Perissodactyla:Tapiridae)was recently shown to be negatively correlated with hard-object feeding,in contrast with similar cranial structures in carnivorans.The aim of this study was to investi-gate bite forces and sagittal crest heights across a wide range of modern and extinct tapirs and apply a comparative investigation to establish whether these features are correlated across a broad phylogenetic scope.We examined a sample of 71 specimens representing 15 tapir species(5 extant,10 extinct)using the dry-skull method,linear measurements of cranial features,phylogenetic reconstruction,and comparative analyses.Tapirs were found to ex-hibit variation in bite force and sagittal crest height across their phylogeny and between different biogeographical realms,with high-crested morphologies occurring mostly in Neotropical species.The highest bite forces within tapirs appear to be driven by estimates for the masseter–pterygoid muscle complex,rather than predicted forces for the temporalis muscle.Our results demonstrate that relative sagittal crest height is poorly correlated with relative cranial bite force,suggesting high force application is not a driver for pronounced sagittal crests in this sample.The divergent biomechanical capabilities of different contemporaneous tapirids may have allowed multiple species to occupy overlapping territories and partition resources to avoid excess competition.Bite forces in tapirs peak in Pleistocene species,independent of body size,suggesting possible dietary shifts as a potential result of climatic changes during this epoch.

关 键 词：biogeography dry-skull method HERBIVORY MASTICATION niche partitioning PLEISTOCENE 

分 类 号：O17[理学—数学]