caa a22 4500 445326115 CHVBK 20180317142721.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170323e20110901xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10914-011-9156-z doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10914-011-9156-z Ecological Adaptations of Mandibular Form in Fissiped Carnivora [Elektronische Daten] [C. Meloro, P. O'Higgins] Among mammals, Carnivora presents an ideal group for investigating the complex interplay between functional adaptation and phylogenetic history. Here we explore mandibular form and its relationship to ecology and phylogeny using geometric morphometrics applied to mandibles of extant Carnivora. Both mandibular size and shape discriminate carnivoran ecological adaptations (diet, membership to small or large predatory guilds), but the interplay of morphology with phylogenetic history is profound. In general, families do not overlap in mandible shape; however, Viverridae, Herpestidae, Canidae, and Mustelidae exhibit functional and morphological convergence. Mandibular allometric trajectories are distinct among families and ecological categories. Our findings suggest that variability in mandibular form among Carnivora is primarily influenced by major evolutionary changes occurring at the family level and less, but significantly so, by ecological adaptations. Small generalist feeders (insectivores, omnivores) exhibit stronger convergence in mandibular shape than highly specialized predators; bigger taxa, such as bears, evolved unique morphologies constrained by allometric scaling. Thus, the findings of this study serve to demonstrate how ecological factors mold anatomical structures in similar ways to serve similar functions. As such, carnivoran species can be usefully grouped into functional ‘guilds' in eco-morphological studies irrespective of their phylogenetic history. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 2011 Diet nationallicence Interspecific allometry nationallicence Macroevolution nationallicence Mandible nationallicence Morphology nationallicence Phylogeny nationallicence Meloro C. Hull York Medical School, The University of Hull, Loxley Building, Cottingham Road, HU6 7RX, Hull, UK aut O'Higgins P. Hull York Medical School, The University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD, York, UK aut Journal of Mammalian Evolution Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 18/3(2011-09-01), 185-200 1064-7554 18:3<185 2011 18 10914 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-011-9156-z text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-011-9156-z text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Meloro C. Hull York Medical School, The University of Hull, Loxley Building, Cottingham Road, HU6 7RX, Hull, UK aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- O'Higgins P. Hull York Medical School, The University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD, York, UK aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Journal of Mammalian Evolution Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 18/3(2011-09-01), 185-200 1064-7554 18:3<185 2011 18 10914 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer