Shared extremes by ectotherms and endotherms: Body elongation in mustelids is associated with small size and reduced limbs

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
Chris J LawRita S Mehta

Abstract

An elongate body with reduced or absent limbs has evolved independently in many ectothermic vertebrate lineages. While much effort has been spent examining the morphological pathways to elongation in these clades, quantitative investigations into the evolution of elongation in endothermic clades are lacking. We quantified body shape in 61 musteloid mammals (red panda, skunks, raccoons, and weasels) using the head-body elongation ratio. We also examined the morphological changes that may underlie the evolution toward more extreme body plans. We found that a mustelid clade comprised of the subfamilies Helictidinae, Guloninae, Ictonychinae, Mustelinae, and Lutrinae exhibited an evolutionary transition toward more elongate bodies. Furthermore, we discovered that elongation of the body is associated with the evolution of other key traits such as a reduction in body size and a reduction in forelimb length but not hindlimb length. This relationship between body elongation and forelimb length has not previously been quantitatively established for mammals but is consistent with trends exhibited by ectothermic vertebrates and suggests a common pattern of trait covariance associated with body shape evolution. This study provides the frame...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 12, 2019·Royal Society Open Science·E Amson, B M Kilbourne
Jul 13, 2020·Journal of Anatomy·Juan Miguel EstebanBorja Figueirido
Mar 19, 2020·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Gen Morinaga, Philip J Bergmann
Nov 11, 2020·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Philip J BergmannCameron D Siler
Dec 15, 2020·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Chris J Law
Jan 24, 2021·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Vera WeisbeckerEmma Sherratt
Apr 24, 2021·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·David C CollarRita S Mehta
Aug 18, 2021·Communications Biology·Maggie M HantakRobert P Guralnick

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