Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5533714 | Mammalian Biology - Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde | 2017 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
We explored the distribution of tooth- and scratch-digging specializations in species of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys (tuco-tucos) from diverse environments and representing different clades. Principal component analysis of craniodental and postcranial indexes with functional relevance showed that specializations for tooth-digging on one hand, and scratch- digging on the other, formed two uncorrelated groups of variables; functionally significant enamel traits varied concurrently with the tooth-digging specialization axis. Species occupied all sectors of the morphospace showing that craniodental and forelimb specializations have not been mutually exclusive in the evolution of the genus.
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Authors
Cecilia C. Morgan, Diego H. Verzi, A. Itatà Olivares, E. Carolina Vieytes,