Article
Ecology
Davide Thambithurai, Anita Racz, Jan Lindstrom, Kevin J. Parsons, Shaun S. Killen
Summary: Commercial fishery harvest can influence the evolution of wild fish populations, especially in terms of morphology. This study found that high vulnerability fish display shallower body shapes regardless of gear type, while low vulnerability fish have morphological characteristics associated with higher burst-swimming, similar to fish populations responding to natural predation.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Antonio Ballell, Emily J. Rayfield, Michael J. Benton
Summary: This study describes the osteological features and provides a complete reconstruction of the forelimb and hindlimb musculature of the Late Triassic sauropodomorph Thecodontosaurus antiquus. The results suggest that Thecodontosaurus was an agile biped, shedding light on the timing of important modifications in the appendicular musculature during the evolution of sauropodomorphs and their transition to quadrupedalism.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Maria Camila Vallejo-Pareja, Edward L. Stanley, Jonathan Bloch, David C. Blackburn
Summary: The establishment of terrestrial vertebrate faunas in North America was influenced by various factors at different geographic scales. A study of anurans from Florida in the Late Oligocene revealed fossils attributed to Eleutherodactylus, providing evidence of their presence in North America before colonizing Central America. This study demonstrates the dispersal of amphibians from the Caribbean into North America during the Late Oligocene.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jamie A. MacLaren
Summary: This study examines the morphology of the forelimb metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of horses and their extinct kin using geometric morphometrics, finding significant temporal correlations at 0-1 Myr intervals and a clear division between New and Old World horse morphologies. The research suggests that horses have the capacity to rapidly change their distal limb morphology to adapt to new habitats and locomotor challenges.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Christian Foth, Roland B. B. Sookias, Martin D. Ezcurra
Summary: Adaptive radiations play a crucial role in generating biodiversity, with the Triassic radiation of the Archosauromorpha being one of the most spectacular examples. Recent studies have shed light on the early adaptive radiation of archosauromorphs, highlighting high rates of evolution, non-competitive niche-filling processes, and previously unrecognized morphological disparity. The results provide insight into delayed disparity peaks, initial correlation of diversity and disparity, and evolutionary early bursts during large-scale adaptive radiations.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Michelle C. Gilbert, Sofia N. Piggott, R. Craig Albertson
Summary: This study explored the response capabilities of a Geophagini cichlid to changes by exposing it to different substrate types. Significant differences were found in shape and disparity, except for the epibranchial lobe which exhibited more modular variation. This research offers insights into how Geophagini cichlids may respond to environmental change and further contributes to our understanding of the functional morphology of winnowing foraging behaviors.
Article
Biology
Aurelien Lowie, Barbara De Kegel, Mark Wilkinson, John Measey, James C. O'Reilly, Nathan J. Kley, Philippe Gaucher, Jonathan Brecko, Thomas Kleinteich, Luc Van Hoorebeke, Anthony Herrel, Dominique Adriaens
Summary: Differences in maximal push forces were found among caecilian species, with the aquatic Typhlonectes producing lower force compared to others. Despite significant variation in head morphology across species, no relationship between overall skull shape and push force was detected. The study confirms previous findings that differences in fossorial behavior do not appear to be driving the evolution of caecilian head shape.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicole Klein, Stefan Eggmaier, Hans Hagdorn
Summary: This article describes the discovery and reconstruction of the holotype of Nothosaurus mirabilis, providing detailed information on its morphology. It also provides an overview of the sedimentary environment and historical activities in the Upper Muschelkalk quarries near Bayreuth. The findings greatly enhance our understanding of the species and genus, allowing for classification of isolated elements.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Brandon P. Hedrick, Emma R. Schachner, Peter Dodson
Summary: Various species undergo ontogenetic niche shifts in diet and habitat to avoid competition, allowing different stages to utilize different resources. Limb shape disparity is significantly higher in adult alligators compared to juveniles or subadults, possibly due to reduced limb use. The forelimb and hindlimb act as a single integrated unit, with limb morphology being more influenced by body size rather than ontogenetic niche shifts.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Talia M. Lowi-Merri, Oliver E. Demuth, Juan Benito, Daniel J. Field, Roger B. J. Benson, Santiago Claramunt, David C. Evans
Summary: Avian skeletal morphology can provide insights into locomotor function in both extant and extinct taxa. In this study, the researchers examined the sternal shape and skeletal proportions of the fossil taxon Ichthyornis to infer its locomotor capabilities. Their analysis suggests that Ichthyornis had both soaring and foot-propelled swimming capabilities. Furthermore, they found that sternal shape and skeletal proportions provide complementary information on avian locomotion, with skeletal proportions predicting flight capacity and sternal shape predicting more specific locomotor abilities. These findings have important implications for understanding the ecology of extinct birds and highlight the significance of sternum morphology in investigations of fossil bird locomotion.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ricardo Araujo, Romain David, Julien Benoit, Lungmus Jacqueline, Fred Spoor, Alexander Stoessel, Paul Barrett, Jessica Maisano, Eric Ekdale, Maeva Orliac, Zhe-Xi Luo, Agustin Martinelli, Eva Hoffman, Christian Sidor, Rui Martins, Kenneth Angielczyk
Summary: Research on the morphology of the inner ear's semicircular ducts suggests that endothermy evolved abruptly during the Late Triassic period, correlated with a sharp increase in body temperature and an expansion of aerobic and anaerobic capacities.
Article
Zoology
Christophe Mallet, Guillaume Billet, Raphael Cornette, And Alexandra Houssaye
Summary: This study explores the evolutionary variation of shape in hindlimb bones of Rhinocerotoidea and its relationship with mass, size, and gracility. The results show that bones become more robust as mass increases, and the shape of the femur is related to mass, size, and gracility, while the shape of the tibia is only related to gracility and mass. Additionally, there is congruent variation in shape between the distal part of the femur and the complete tibia, indicating strong covariation of elements in the knee joint. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between bone shape and mass in Rhinocerotoidea and refine the concept of "graviportality" in this superfamily.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Tomasz Szczygielski, Rafal Piechowski
Summary: This study provides a detailed description of the osteology and intraspecific variability of the limbs and girdles of early turtles (Proterochersis spp.), and compares them with other Triassic stem turtles. The results help us understand the diagnostic value of the early turtle appendicular skeleton and suggest that Proterochersis spp. may have been partly aquatic and could change their preferred habitat during ontogeny.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jordan Hernandez, Amado Villalobos-Leiva, Adriana Bermudez, Daniela Ahumada-C, Manuel J. Suazo, Margarita Correa, Angie Diaz, Hugo A. Benitez
Summary: This study analyzes the morphological variability of Caquetaia kraussii and finds that environmental stress influences about 10% of its body shape, while the majority of the variability is not directly influenced by environmental parameters, suggesting a possible effect from sexual dimorphism. Additionally, there is shape variation among populations of different localities, which may be subject to environmental and sexual stresses.
Article
Forestry
Kaiyu Yang, Jianghao Wu, Xinman Li, Xinbo Pang, Yangchen Yuan, Guohui Qi, Minsheng Yang
Summary: This study compared the application of traditional morphometric methods (TMMs) and geometric morphometric methods (GMMs) in the study of intraspecific leaf morphological characters of Quercus dentata. The results showed that GMMs had higher classification accuracy and could provide more information about leaf shape, while TMMs could provide more information about leaf size.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Andrew R. Cuff, Ashleigh L. A. Wiseman, Peter J. Bishop, Krijn B. Michel, Raphaelle Gaignet, John R. Hutchinson
Summary: In vertebrates, muscle forces acting on bones drive active movement. This study investigates the relationship between physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) and muscular attachment areas (AAs) in hindlimb muscles of Nile crocodiles and bird species. Findings show variations in the ratio between AAs and PCSA within and across species, but muscle fascicle lengths are consistent within individual species. Equations can predict the ratio of muscle AA to PCSA, and this method can be used to estimate muscle sizes in archosaurian muscles.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Killian Leblanc, Romain Pintore, Ana Galvao, Ezekiel Heitz, Pauline Provini
Summary: This study explores the correlation between foot bone shapes and locomotor habits in the Furnariida family of birds. The research reveals that there is a significant relationship between foot bone morphology and acrobatic performances, suggesting that the variations in foot bone shapes are adaptations to their locomotor habits and behaviors.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oliver E. Demuth, Ashleigh L. A. Wiseman, John R. Hutchinson
Summary: Birds and crocodylians, the remaining members of Archosauria, have major differences in posture and gait. The ancestral capabilities of bipedalism in archosaurs are contentious. Euparkeria capensis, a central taxon for studying locomotion in archosaurs, is argued to be facultatively bipedal, but no biomechanical tests have been performed. Through musculoskeletal models and simulations, it is unlikely that Euparkeria was bipedal, suggesting ancestral bipedal abilities in Archosauria are unlikely.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Jordan Gonet, Jeremie Bardin, Marc Girondot, John R. Hutchinson, Michel Laurin
Summary: The water-to-land transition of the first tetrapod vertebrates is a crucial stage in their evolution. Through the study of bone microanatomy in reptiles, we can gain insights into the mechanisms behind their locomotor and postural diversity. We have developed a model to infer locomotion in extinct reptiles based on microanatomical parameters and have applied it to 7 taxa with debated locomotion strategies.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jordan Gonet, Jeremie Bardin, Marc Girondot, John R. Hutchinson, Michel Laurin
Summary: Mammals have a long evolutionary history and are now one of the most diverse groups of tetrapod vertebrates. This diversity is reflected in their postural variations and microanatomical differences in the bones. The study shows how these anatomical parameters can be related to posture and provides a model that can be used to infer the posture of extinct synapsids.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION
(2023)
Correction
Evolutionary Biology
Jordan Gonet, Jeremie Bardin, Marc Girondot, John R. Hutchinson, Michel Laurin
JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Jordan Gonet, Jeremie Bardin, Marc Girondot, John R. Hutchinson, Michel Laurin
Summary: Reptiles, including lizards, turtles, crocodiles, and birds, exhibit a diverse range of locomotion and limb bone microstructure. This study quantitatively examines the relationship between angular microanatomical parameters of reptilian femoral cross-sections and locomotion using elliptic Fourier transforms and statistical analyses. Results show that while phylogeny plays a significant role, a functional signal exists, with bipeds showing a craniolateral-caudomedial deficit in bone compactness, and quadrupeds showing a dorsoventral deficit. These findings provide insights into the complex interplay between phylogeny, femoral cross-sectional microanatomy, and locomotion in reptiles.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sophie Macaulay, Tatjana Hoehfurtner, Samuel R. R. Cross, Ryan D. Marek, John R. Hutchinson, Emma R. Schachner, Alice E. Maher, Karl T. Bates
Summary: Research challenges the traditional dichotomy between dinosaurs and birds, showing that their evolution is not strictly defined by phylogenetics, but rather by the different demands of terrestrial and flight lifestyles. The evolution of body shape and mass distribution in birds suggests modularity, with powered flight evolving before fully crouched bipedalism.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Romain Pintore, Raphael Cornette, Alexandra Houssaye, Ronan Allain
Summary: This study uses 3D geometric morphometrics and Gaussian mixture modeling to investigate hindlimb variation in the best-preserved specimens from a herd of ornithomimosaurs. The results reveal evidence of sexual dimorphism, which is important for a better understanding of intraspecific variation in fossil dinosaurs and addressing taxonomical and ecological questions related to dinosaur evolution.
Article
Ecology
Jordan Gonet, Michel Laurin, John R. Hutchinson
Summary: Extant amniotes exhibit diverse postures. Limbs with erect or crouched postures are found in different taxa based on their locomotion and body mass. The postural transition from sprawling to erect limbs occurred in both reptiles and synapsids during the Mesozoic Era. This study examines the link between femoral posture and trabecular architecture using phylogenetic analysis, revealing conflicting results regarding the evolution of posture in amniotes.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mauro B. S. Lacerda, Jonathas S. Bittencourt, John R. Hutchinson
Summary: The study analyzed the macroevolution of the locomotor system in early Theropoda, with a focus on Megalosauroidea. By scoring Spinosaurus and mapping the modifications onto a phylogeny, the researchers studied the disparities in the evolution of Megalosauroidea. The findings provide a stronger foundation for future studies on pelvic/appendicular musculature and locomotor function.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Mauro B. S. Lacerda, Jonathas S. Bittencourt, John R. Hutchinson
Summary: This study reconstructs the hindlimb musculature of Piatnitzkysauridae, providing a more complete understanding of myological evolution in theropod pelvic appendages.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Max J. Kurz, John R. Hutchinson
Summary: Elephants use visual feedback to correct and maintain the proper sequencing of their limbs during locomotion.
Article
Anthropology
Julia van Beesel, John R. Hutchinson, Jean-Jacques Hublin, Stephanie Melillo
Summary: Contrary to previous hypotheses, this study found that the morphological differences between human and ape shoulders do not enhance the arm-raising mechanism, but instead enhance the arm-lowering mechanism. The arm-lowering capacity was found to be greater in gorillas compared to humans, due to greater maximum isometric force capacities and moment arms of important arm-lowering muscles. These findings highlight the importance of a strong arm-lowering mechanism for arboreal locomotor behavior in nonhuman apes and improve our understanding of adaptation in living apes and the hominin fossil record.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Romain Pintore, Arnaud Delapre, Remi Lefebvre, Leo Botton-Divet, Alexandra Houssay, Raphael Cornette
Summary: This study explores a method for retrodeformation of asymmetrical objects, specifically limb bones, using Thin-Plate Splines (TPS) interpolation function. The effectiveness of TPS interpolation as a retrodeformation tool was quantitatively estimated. The results show that fully flattened and stretched bones are easier to retrodeform compared to bent and twisted bones. Introducing morphological variation improves the efficiency of retrodeformation for bent and locally stretched bones. This study provides a foundation for shape analysis of retrodeformed bones.
COMPTES RENDUS PALEVOL
(2022)