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Chatar & al craniomandibular shape of cat like carnivorans Project ID: 000548886 Public
28 Media · 24 Specimens · Managed by: Davide Tamagnini, Narimane Chatar, Margot Michaud

Associated publication: Chatar, N., Michaud, M., Tamagnini, D., Fischer, V. (2024) Evolutionary patterns of cat-like carnivorans unveils drivers of the sabertoothed morphology. Current Biology [IN PRESS] Summary The sabertooth morphology stands as a classic case of convergence, manifesting recurrently across various vertebrate groups, prominently within two carnivorans clades: felids and nimravids. Nonetheless, the evolutionary mechanisms driving these recurring phenotypes remain insufficiently understood, lacking a robust phylogenetic and spatiotemporal framework. We reconstruct into the tempo and mode of cranio-mandibular evolution of Felidae and Nimravidae and evaluate the strength of the dichotomy between conical and sabertoothed species but also within sabertoothed morphotypes. To do so, we investigate morphological variation, convergence, phenotypic integration, and evolutionary rates, employing a comprehensive dataset of nearly 200 3D models encompassing mandibles and crania from both extinct and extant feline-like carnivorans, spanning their entire evolutionary timeline. Our results reject the hypothesis of a distinctive sabretooth morphology, revealing instead a continuous spectrum of feline-like phenotypes in both cranium and mandible, with sporadic instances of unequivocal convergence. Disparity peaked at the end of the Miocene and is usually higher in clades containing taxa with extreme sabertoothed adaptations. We show that taxa with saberteeth exhibit a lower degree of craniomandibular integration, allowing to exhibit a greater range of phenotypes. Those same groups usually show a burst of morphological evolutionary rate at the beginning of their evolutionary history. Consequently, we propose that a reduced degree of integration coupled with rapid evolutionary rates emerge as key components in the development of a sabertoothed morphology in multiple clades. Key words: Felidae, Nimravidae, Convergence, 3D geometric morphometrics, integration, Disparity, Skull, Mandible, Rate of evolution

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List of media items in this team
  ID Part Object Taxonomy Type Date Added Publication Status  
000627984 Mandible nrm:581703 Catopuma temminckii Mesh 2024-05-06 Open Download  
000627925 Cranium nrm:581703 Catopuma temminckii Mesh 2024-05-06 Open Download  
000627870 Cranium nrm:585401 Caracal caracal Mesh 2024-05-06 Open Download  
000627757 Mandible nrm:585866 Caracal aurata Mesh 2024-05-06 Open Download  
000627744 Cranium nrm:585866 Caracal aurata Mesh 2024-05-06 Open Download  
000627732 Cranium usnm:ip:531533 Barbourofelis fricki Mesh 2024-05-06 Open Download  
000627712 Mandible rmca:vert:75.009-M-0010 Acinonyx jubatus Mesh 2024-05-06 Open Download  
000627702 Cranium rmca:vert:75.009-M-0010 Acinonyx jubatus Mesh 2024-05-06 Open Download  
000592852 Right dentary ypm:vp:012953 Eusmilus sicarius Mesh 2023-12-28 Restricted Download  
000592848 Skull ypm:vp:012953 Eusmilus sicarius Mesh 2023-12-27 Restricted Download  
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