Trends of Specialisation in Rodents: the Five-toed Jerboas, Subfamily <i>Allactaginae</i> (Dipodoidea, Rodentia)

Miljutin, Andrei

doi:10.2478/v10043-008-0033-9

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Evolutionarily Extreme: Evolutionarily extreme structures are extreme when compared with homologous structures in closely related organisms. Examples include the hindlegs of jerboas, which are relatively longer than the hindlegs of their quadrupedal ancestors (Miljutin, 2008;Dipodidae;Wu et al, 2014) and the raptorial forelimbs of mantidflies (mantispidae; Ohl, Barkalov, & Xin-Yue, 2004). Evolutionarily extreme structures can be distinguished by a) comparing static scaling relationships (slopes and/or intercepts) of individuals sampled from populations of ancestral and derived species; b) comparing mean relative trait size of ancestral and derived species (e.g., Wu et al, 2014); and/or c) Lines represent ordinary least squares regression of log10 standardized structure size on log10 standardized body size (slope estimates and sample sizes reported in Table 1).…”

Section: Fig%mentioning

confidence: 99%

On the evolution of extreme structures: static scaling and the function of sexually selected signals

et al. 2018

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Section: Fig%mentioning

confidence: 99%

On the evolution of extreme structures: static scaling and the function of sexually selected signals

et al. 2018

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“…Fusion of the cervical vertebrae has been documented in the jerboa genera Dipus , Jaculus and Stylodipus (Hatt, ) and is reported in the subfamily Cardiocraniinae (Miljutin, ). Fusion tends to occur between most or all post‐atlantal vertebrae.…”

Section: Systematic Anatomical Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution and function of anterior cervical vertebral fusion in tetrapods

VanBuren

Evans

2016

Biol Rev

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The evolution of vertebral fusion is a poorly understood phenomenon that results in the loss of mobility between sequential vertebrae. Non-pathological fusion of the anterior cervical vertebrae has evolved independently in numerous extant and extinct mammals and reptiles, suggesting that the formation of a 'syncervical' is an adaptation that arose to confer biomechanical advantage(s) in these lineages. We review syncervical anatomy and evolution in a broad phylogenetic context for the first time and provide a comprehensive summary of proposed adaptive hypotheses. The syncervical generally consists of two vertebrae (e.g. hornbills, porcupines, dolphins) but can include fusion of seven cervical vertebrae in some cetaceans. Based on the ecologies of taxa with this trait, cervical fusion most often occurs in fossorial and pelagic taxa. In fossorial taxa, the syncervical likely increases the out-lever force during head-lift digging. In cetaceans and ricochetal rodents, the syncervical may stabilize the head and neck during locomotion, although considerable variation exists in its composition without apparent variability in locomotion. Alternatively, the highly reduced cervical vertebral centra may require fusion to prevent mechanical failure of the vertebrae. In birds, the syncervical of hornbills may have evolved in response to their unique casque-butting behaviour, or due to increased head mass. The general correlation between ecological traits and the presence of a syncervical in extant taxa allows more accurate interpretation of extinct animals that also exhibit this unique trait. For example, syncervicals evolved independently in several groups of marine reptiles and may have functioned to stabilize the head at the craniocervical joint during pelagic locomotion, as in cetaceans. Overall, the origin and function of fused cervical vertebrae is poorly understood, emphasizing the need for future comparative biomechanical studies interpreted in an evolutionary context.

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“…The data for the brown rat are from Miljutin (1997). For more details on the choice of characters, terminology, and relevant statistical methods (not used here) see Miljutin (1997Miljutin ( , 2008Miljutin ( , 2009.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Notes on the external morphology, ecology, and origin ofMegalomys desmarestii(Sigmodontinae, Cricetidae, Rodentia), the extinct giant rat of Martinique Island, Lesser Antilles

Miljutin¹

2010

Estonian J. Ecol.

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The giant rat of Martinique Island, Megalomys desmarestii (Fischer, 1829) became extinct at the end of the 19th or the very beginning of the 20th century. Little is known about its habits. The goal of this research was to reconstruct its ecology using the external and craniodental morphological characters of available museum specimens. On the basis of ecomorphological analysis some suggestions are made about the locomotor abilities, ecological strategies, adaptive evolution, and origin of this rodent. It is proposed that M. desmarestii foraged mostly on the ground and sheltered in burrows. Its main food was seeds and fruits, including nuts. It was crepuscular rather than strictly nocturnal or diurnal. The general trends of its adaptive evolution were: (1) increasing body size, (2) transition from an arboreal to a terrestrial/subterranean way of life, and (3) adaptation to eating hard-covered fruits. Thus, the ancestor of M. desmarestii was probably smaller and had arboreal or semiarboreal habits. The granulated structure of the soles of M. desmarestii's feet supports a close relationship with Nectomys.

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Trends of Specialisation in Rodents: the Five-toed Jerboas, Subfamily Allactaginae (Dipodoidea, Rodentia)

Cited by 8 publications

References 1 publication

On the evolution of extreme structures: static scaling and the function of sexually selected signals

On the evolution of extreme structures: static scaling and the function of sexually selected signals

Evolution and function of anterior cervical vertebral fusion in tetrapods

Notes on the external morphology, ecology, and origin ofMegalomys desmarestii(Sigmodontinae, Cricetidae, Rodentia), the extinct giant rat of Martinique Island, Lesser Antilles

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