A5055864200- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Leaf Properties and Growth Measurement
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Vestibular and auditory disorders
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
The Scarborough Hospital
2018-2025
University of Toronto
2018-2025
Primates are often considered to have a poor sense of smell. While all studies identify small olfactory bulbs (OB; the region brain responsible for processing scent) among haplorhines, whether or not strepsirrhines also possess OBs is less clear, as evolutionary backdrop from which these patterns emerged. Here, we examine relative size in cranial endocasts living and fossil primates their kin (Euarchontoglires [Primates, Dermoptera, Scandentia, Rodentia, Lagomorpha]), testing previous...
Abstract Aplodontia rufa (mountain beaver) is the only extant member of Aplodontidae. The fossil record indicates that this family displayed greater taxonomic and ecological diversity in past, burrowing adaptations might be derived. We describe first virtual endocasts A. three aplodontids: Prosciurus relictus Pros. aff. saskatchewaensis (early Oligocene), Mesogaulus paniensis Miocene). Our results show early aplodontid rodents are more similar to those arboreal squirrels than later occurring...
The petrosal lobules (in whole or part homologous with the paraflocculi) of cerebellum regulate functions associated vision including smooth pursuit and velocity control eye movements, suggesting a possible relationship between behavioral adaptation. Previous studies have produced diverging conclusions regarding lobules' ecological signal. current study examines lobule scaling within an ecologically diverse but phylogenetically constrained sample extant mammals to determine whether ecology...
Abstract Caviomorph rodents are endemic to South America and one of the most adaptively diverse radiations today. Although their origin diversification have been intensively studied, questions still remain about many details where, when how group radiated. One area continuing debate relates evolution neurosensory system. Modern caviomorphs exhibit a rich brain shape size diversity. So far oldest species for which endocranial data known is dated Early Miocene. Here, we describe virtual...
Due to their global distribution, invasive history, and unique characteristics, European rabbits are recognizable almost anywhere on our planet. Although they members of a much larger group living extinct mammals [Mammalia, Lagomorpha (rabbits, hares, pikas)], the is often characterized by several well-known genera (e.g., Oryctolagus , Sylvilagus Lepus Ochotona ). This representation does not capture extraordinary diversity behavior form found throughout order. Model organisms commonly used...
Early lagomorphs are central to our understanding of how the brain evolved in Glires (rodents, and their kin) from basal members Euarchontoglires (Glires + Euarchonta, latter grouping primates, treeshrews, colugos). Here, we report first virtual endocast fossil lagomorph Megalagus turgidus , Orella Member Brule Formation, early Oligocene, Nebraska, USA. The specimen represents one oldest nearly complete skulls known. Primitive aspects endocranial morphology include large olfactory bulbs,...
Landmark-based geometric morphometrics is widely used to study the morphology of endocast, or internal mold braincase, and diversity associated with this structure across vertebrates. Landmarks, as basic unit such methods, are intended be points correspondence, selected depending on question at hand, whose proper definition essential guarantee robustness reproducibility results. In study, 20 landmarks defined provide a framework analyze morphological variability in squamate endocasts. Ten...
Abstract Anagalids are an extinct group of primitive mammals from the Asian Palaeogene thought to be possible basal members Glires. Anagalid material is rare, with only a handful crania known. Here we describe first virtual endocast anagalid, based on holotype Anagale gobiensis (AMNH 26079; late Eocene, China), which allows for comparison published endocasts fossil modern euarchontogliran lineages (i.e. primates, rodents, lagomorphs). The displays traits often observed in fossorial mammals,...
The timing and nature of evolutionary shifts in the relative brain size Primates have been extensively studied. Less is known, however, about scaling brain-to-body their closest living relatives, i.e., among other members Euarchontoglires (Dermoptera, Scandentia, Lagomorpha, Rodentia). Ordinary least squares (OLS), reduced major axis (RMA), phylogenetic generalized (PGLS) regressions were fitted to largest euarchontogliran data set body mass, comprising 715 species. Contrary previous...
The evolution of the remarkably complex primate brain has been a topic great interest for decades. Multiple factors have proposed to explain comparatively larger (relative body mass), with recent studies indicating diet greatest explanatory power. Dietary specialisations also correlate dental adaptations, providing potential evolutionary link between and morphological evolution. However, unambiguous evidence association phenotypes in primates remains elusive. Here we investigate effect on...
While brain size in primates and their relatives within Euarchontoglires is well-studied, less research has examined shape, or the allometric trajectories that underlie relationship between shape. Defining these patterns key to understanding evolutionary trends. 3D geometric morphometric analyses of endocranial shape were performed on 140 species extant euarchontoglirans using digital cranial endocasts. Principal component Procrustes variables show a clear phylogenetic pattern supported by...
Figures and Tables with additional morphological metrical data (comparative material) for the paper.