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Calvarial Model of Bone Augmentation in Rabbit for Assessment of Bone Growth and Neovascularization in Bone Substitution Materials
Published on: August 13, 2019
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Evolutionary morphology of the rabbit skull.
1Department of Anatomy, Western University of Health Sciences , United States.
Peerj
|October 1, 2016
Summary
The rabbit and hare skull (leporid) shows significant cranial diversity influenced by facial tilt and size, but not locomotor mode. This study reveals weak evolutionary history and homoplasy in leporid skull shapes.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Comparative Anatomy
Background:
- Leporid skulls exhibit unique dorsal arching and facial tilt.
- Locomotor behavior is known to influence cranial shape in rabbits and hares.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the drivers of cranial diversity in leporids using 3D geometric morphometrics.
- To explore the correlation between facial tilt, locomotor mode, and cranial shape variation.
- To assess the influence of evolutionary allometry and phylogenetic history on leporid cranial morphology.
Main Methods:
- Extensive 3D geometric morphometrics dataset.
- Phylogenetic comparative analysis.
- Analysis of cranial shape variation, facial tilt, and body size.
Main Results:
- Facial tilt angle predicts a significant portion of cranial shape variation but locomotor mode does not correlate with overall cranial shape.
- Evolutionary allometry, particularly influenced by the pygmy rabbit, accounts for a small percentage of cranial shape variation.
- Leporid crania display weak phylogenetic signal and considerable homoplasy, complicating ancestral state reconstruction.
Conclusions:
- Facial tilt is a key factor in leporid cranial diversity, though locomotor mode is not a direct predictor of overall shape.
- The pygmy rabbit significantly impacts allometric shape changes.
- Despite homoplasy, fossil evidence suggests dorsal arching and facial tilt predated the crown group, highlighting the need for further phylogenetic research including fossil taxa.
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