Skip to Content

Convergent evolution of olfactory and thermoregulatory capacities in small amphibious mammals Project ID: 00000C974 Public
120 Media · 120 Specimens · Managed by: Quentin Martinez

Olfaction and thermoregulation are key functions for mammals. The former is critical to feeding, mating, and predator avoidance behaviors, while the latter is essential for homeothermy. Aquatic and amphibious mammals face olfactory and thermoregulatory challenges not generally encountered by terrestrial species. In mammals, the nasal cavity houses a bony system supporting soft tissues and sensory organs implicated in either olfactory or thermoregulatory functions. It is hypothesized that to cope with aquatic environments, amphibious mammals have expanded their thermo regulatory capacity at the expense of their olfactory system. We investigated the evolutionary history of this potential trade-off using a comparative dataset of three-dimensional (3D) CT scans of 189 skulls, capturing 17 independent transitions from a strictly terrestrial to an amphibious lifestyle across small mammals (Afrosoricida, Eulipotyphla, and Rodentia). We identified rapid and repeated loss of olfactory capacities synchronously associated with gains in thermoregulatory capacity in amphibious taxa sampled from across mammalian phylogenetic diversity. Evolutionary models further reveal that these convergences result from faster rates of turbinal bone evolution and release of selective constraints on the thermoregulatory-olfaction trade-off in amphibious species. Lastly, we demonstrated that traits related to vital functions evolved faster to the optimum compared to traits that are not related to vital functions.

View results as:
List Gallery
List of media items in this team
  ID Part Object Taxonomy Type Date Added Publication Status  
000113485 turbinals nmv:-:32027 Waiomys mamasae Mesh 2020-03-22 Open Download  
000113484 turbinals nhmuk:zoo:52327 Thomomys bottae Mesh 2020-03-22 Open Download  
000113482 turbinals nhmuk:zoo:8232028 Thomomys townsendii Mesh 2020-03-22 Open Download  
000113483 turbinals nhmuk:zoo:9831131 Thomomys townsendii Mesh 2020-03-22 Open Download  
000113480 turbinals amnh:mammals:225117 Tateomys rhinogradoides Mesh 2020-03-22 Open Download  
000113481 turbinals nmv:-:KCR2634 Tateomys rhinogradoides Mesh 2020-03-22 Open Download  
000113479 turbinals nmv:-:37081 Tateomys macrocercus Mesh 2020-03-22 Open Download  
000113478 turbinals amnh:mammals:225073 Tateomys macrocercus Mesh 2020-03-22 Open Download  
000113477 turbinals amnh:mammals:225072 Tateomys macrocercus Mesh 2020-03-22 Open Download  
000113475 turbinals um:- Sorex coronatus Mesh 2020-03-22 Open Download  
Number of results to display per page
Showing 1 - 10 of 120