Comparative morphology of the dormouse skull and the influence of size and ecology

Dormice are widely dispersed across various ecosystems in Eurasia and Africa and among the oldest extant rodent lineages. Despite distinct morphological variation to be present between groups, comprehensive morphometrical studies on the dormouse skull are limited. Here, the form of eight out of the nine extant dormouse genera was analysed using 3D geometric morphometrics and linear biomechanical measurements, providing a better understanding of the overall morphological variation present within Gliridae. Species-, genus- and family-specific morphological trends in both the size and shape of the cranium and mandible are linked with specific habitats and feeding strategies. Smaller dormice show adaptations to a more arboreal lifestyle such as a relatively enlarged braincase and an inferiorly reoriented foramen magnum. Larger dormice show cranial modifications, including clear flattening of the skull and a more posteriorly positioned foramen magnum, hinting towards a more rupicolous lifestyle. Furthermore, specimens inhabiting arid areas appear to have more inflated auditory bullae, whereas other variable features, such as the length of the incisive foramen, were not associated with either size changes or climatic variables. Lastly, more robust and horizontally orientated zygomatic arches as well as increased robusticity of the molar row appear to be linked with herbivory in dormice, whereas thinner arches and small concave molars are seen in more insectivorous species. This study reveals clear convergent adaptations between dormouse species and results in a better understanding of ecological drivers underpinning the morphological divergence present within Gliridae.