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Dissection, MicroCT Scanning and Morphometric Analyses of the Baculum
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Morphological evolution of the carnivoran sacrum
Juan Miguel Esteban1, Alberto Martín-Serra1, Ceferino Varón-González2
1Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
Journal of Anatomy
|July 13, 2020
Summary
The sacrum
Area of Science:
- Vertebrate anatomy
- Ecomorphology
- Paleontology
Background:
- The sacrum is crucial for connecting the vertebral column and hind limbs in vertebrates.
- Understanding sacrum evolution is vital for vertebrate ecomorphology.
- Morphometric studies on sacrum evolution and function are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphological evolution of the sacrum in Carnivora.
- To analyze the relationship between sacrum form and function using 3D geometric morphometrics.
- To explore how locomotor demands influence sacrum evolution in carnivores.
Main Methods:
- Utilized three-dimensional (3D) geometric morphometrics.
- Applied principal component analysis (PCA) with a phylogenetic background.
- Quantified sacrum morphology in relation to skeletal articulation and body proportions.
Main Results:
- Sacrum morphology changes are concentrated at joint areas, enhancing resistance to stress from muscle loading.
- Sacrum shape correlates with relative tail length and relative body mass.
- Distinct evolutionary pathways in sacrum morphology were observed among carnivore families.
Conclusions:
- Sacrum evolution in carnivores is driven by locomotor requirements.
- Different carnivore families exhibit diverse morphological adaptations for similar functional demands.
- This study highlights alternative evolutionary solutions for sacrum function in mammals.
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