Craniodental indicators of prey size preference in the Felidae
Craniodental indicators of prey size preference in the Felidae
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1095-8312.2008.01169.x
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发表时间：
2009-04-01
影响因子：
1.9
通讯作者：
Van Valkenburgh, Blaire
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Meachen-Samuels, Julie;Van Valkenburgh, Blaire
在本研究中，我们使用线性形态计量学对35种现存猫科动物的头盖骨、下颌骨和牙列进行了研究，探讨了头盖骨形状与猎物大小之间的关系。为了做到这一点，将猫科动物分为三个猎物大小的群体：(1)大型猎物专家；(2)小猎物专科动物；(3)混合捕食者。从这些线性测量中，可以通过相对强壮的犬齿和门牙以及相对宽的口部来区分大型猎物专业猫科动物与小型和混合猎物捕食者。这些颅骨特征在猎杀大型猎物时是有利的，因为猫在这一活动中使用勒死。强壮的犬齿可以抵抗挣扎的猎物施加的弯曲和扭转力，更宽的口鼻有助于稳定抓握，并在杀戮时更均匀地分配咬合力。小型猎物专家的犬齿更小，口部更窄，下颚略长，以便在捕捉小型快速猎物时具有速度优势。混合捕食者介于大型和小型捕食者之间，表明它们适应杀死两种大小的猎物。考虑到这种生态形态分析对不同猎物大小的现存猫科动物的成功，我们期待着将同样的方法应用于灭绝物种。(C) 2009林奈生物学报，林奈生物学报，2009,96,784-799。
In the present study, we used linear morphometrics of the crania, mandible and dentition to explore the association between craniodental shape and prey size among 35 species of living felids. To accomplish this, felids were divided into three prey-size groups: (1) large prey specialists; (2) small prey specialists; and (3) mixed prey feeders. From these linear measurements, large prey specialist felids can be distinguished from small and mixed prey feeders by their relatively robust canines and incisors and relatively wide muzzles. These cranial characters are advantageous when dispatching large prey, due to the stranglehold that cats employ during this activity. Robust canines resist the bending and torsional forces applied by struggling prey and a wider muzzle helps to stabilize grip and distribute bite forces more evenly during the killing bite. Small prey specialists had smaller canines, narrower muzzles and slightly longer jaws for a speed advantage when catching small, quick prey. Mixed prey feeders were intermediate between large and small prey specialists, indicating they are adapted to killing both sizes of prey. Given the success of this ecomorphological analysis of living felids that specialize on different prey sizes, we look forward to applying this same approach to extinct species. (C) 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 96, 784-799.