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A switch in jaw form-function coupling during the evolution of mammals.

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Crown mammals evolved diverse jaw shapes with consistent stiffness, a strength-based system enabling adaptation to various diets. This jaw evolution, linked to hearing and chewing decoupling, impacted mechanical efficiency and speed.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Vertebrate paleontology
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Mammalian evolution involved a significant jaw transformation from multi-element to single-element dentary jaws.
  • This shift is as crucial as middle-ear evolution in understanding crown mammal radiation.
  • Previous research primarily focused on middle-ear changes, overlooking jaw structural adaptations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between jaw shape diversity and mechanical properties in crown mammals.
  • To explore the functional consequences of jaw evolution for mastication and locomotion.
  • To understand the genetic basis and evolutionary impact of jaw stiffness.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of jaw morphology across diverse crown mammal species.
  • Biomechanical assessments to quantify jaw stiffness and mechanical efficiency.
  • Genetic analysis to identify the basis of jaw morphofunctional regimes.

Main Results:

  • Crown mammal jaw shapes are highly diverse but exhibit remarkably stereotyped stiffness.
  • This strength-based morphofunctional regime has a genetic basis.
  • Decoupling hearing and mastication led to increased jaw stiffness but decreased mechanical efficiency and speed compared to non-mammals.

Conclusions:

  • The evolution of a stiff, single-element dentary jaw was a key factor in the ecological and taxonomic diversification of crown mammals.
  • This adaptation allowed mammals to exploit a wide range of diets and environments.
  • The trade-off between stiffness and mechanical efficiency highlights a fundamental shift in mammalian jaw function.