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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  
000158680 Calcaneus l-rhd:02 Odocoileus virginianus Mesh 2020-08-20 Open Download  
000158679 Calcaneus l-rhd:01 Odocoileus virginianus Mesh 2020-08-20 Open Download  
000158666 Calcaneus KU:KUM:14666 Cervus elaphus canadensis Mesh 2020-08-20 Open Download  
000158671 Calcaneus KU:KUM:143916 Odocoileus hemionus Mesh 2020-08-20 Open Download  
000158670 Calcaneus KU:KUM:9327 Odocoileus hemionus Mesh 2020-08-20 Open Download  
000158668 Calcaneus KU:KUM:155307 Mazama gouazoubira Mesh 2020-08-20 Open Download  
000158678 Calcaneus KU:KUM:92687 Tragulus napu Mesh 2020-08-20 Open Download  
000158608 Calcaneus KU:KUM:144047 Antilocapra americana americana Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
000158610 Calcaneus KU:KUM:160878 Antilocapra americana americana Mesh 2020-08-19 Open Download  
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