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Ecomorphological variation in artiodactyl calcanei using 3D geometric morphometrics Project ID: 0000C1106 Public
39 Media · 39 Specimens · Managed by: Rachel Dunn

Artiodactyl postcrania are commonly used as paleoecological indicators but these studies are usually limited to artiodactyls within a single family. Here, we use 3D geometric morphometrics to analyze the morphology of calcanei from five artiodactyl families (Antilocapridae, Bovidae, Cervidae, Giraffidae, and Tragulidae) and identify common ecological trends among these families using principal component analysis. Our results indicate that antilocaprid and some bovid calcanei show convergent evolution of cursorial morphology and that other bovids have independently evolved less cursorial morphology that is more similar to cervids. This study shows that parallel ecomorphological trends can be identified in multiple families of artiodactyls, as well as within artiodactyl groups. This further suggests that the calcaneus may be a good indicator of ecology and function in fossil groups that are taxonomically ambiguous or not closely related to living taxa.

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  ID Part Object Taxonomy Type Date Added Publication Status  
000158606 Calcaneus KU:KUM:157361 Alcelaphus buselaphus Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
000158608 Calcaneus KU:KUM:144047 Antilocapra americana americana Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
000158609 Calcaneus KU:KUM:146462 Antilocapra americana americana Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
000158610 Calcaneus KU:KUM:160878 Antilocapra americana americana Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
000158611 Calcaneus KU:KUM:139099 Addax nasomaculatus Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
000158612 Calcaneus KU:KUM:2493 Bison bison bison Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
000158613 Calcaneus KU:KUM:2495 Bison bison bison Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
000158614 Calcaneus KU:KUM:157363 Connochaetes taurinus Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
000158616 Calcaneus KU:KUM:157364 Connochaetes taurinus Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
000158617 Calcaneus KU:KUM:157365 Damaliscus lunatus Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
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