Cranial Morphology and Phylogeny of Ruminantia (Mammalia, Artiodactyla)

反刍动物是一组多样化且重要的哺乳动物， 包括9科35属，包括牛科动物（山羊， 羊、牛）、鹿（鹿、麋鹿）和长颈鹿。 这些和 化石中有几种已灭绝的反刍动物 记录，但他们头骨的详细形态 没有被详细研究过。 迄今为止，大多数比较研究 化石和生物的分类和演化 反刍动物是基于后颅骨骼遗骸 （特别是四肢的特征）和牙齿。 Dr. S.大卫韦伯 提出了一项雄心勃勃的研究颅骨形态的 活的和化石反刍动物群体的代表， 重建它们的进化关系。 的 他的分析结果将与 基于非颅骨数据的结果，以及 分子数据，包括线粒体DNA序列。 拟议的研究具有广泛的影响。 的综合体 新的和现有的数据将有助于明确最精确的 迄今为止反刍动物进化的图片。 一个强大的家谱， 适应性，地理学，功能形态学，和 生物多样性 这项研究的结果将发现一个广泛的 观众之间的比较解剖学家，解剖学家， 进化生物学家

The ruminants are a diverse and important group of mammals, comprising 35 genera in nine families, including bovids (goats, sheep, cows), cervids (deer, elk) and giraffids. These and several extinct groups of ruminants are represented in the fossil record, but the detailed morphology of their cranial bones has not been studied in detail. To date, most comparative research on the classification and evolution of fossil and living ruminants has been based on post-cranial skeletal remains (especially features of the limbs) and teeth. Dr. S. David Webb proposes an ambitious study of cranial morphology of representatives of living and fossil ruminant groups, for the purpose of reconstructing their evolutionary relationships. The results of his analysis will be compared and integrated with results based on non-cranial data, and several varieties of molecular data, including mitochondrial DNA sequences. The proposed research has wide implications. A synthesis of new and existing data will help to crystallize the most precise picture of ruminant evolution to date. A robust family tree for adaptation, biogeography, functional morphology, and biodiversity. The results of this research will find a wide audience among comparative anatomists, mammalogists, and evolutionary biologists.