Interspecific variation in the limb long bones among modern rhinoceroses—extent and drivers

• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7647
• Publication Date: 2019-09-26T19:44:43Z
• Authors: Christophe Mallet; Raphaël Cornette; Guillaume Billet; Alexandra Houssaye
• Keywords: Morphometrics; Allometry

Among amniotes, numerous lineages are subject to an evolutionary trend toward body mass and size increases. Large terrestrial species may face important constraints linked weight bearing, the limb segments particularly affected by such due their role in support locomotion. Such groups showing modifications related high have been called “graviportal.” Often considered graviportal, rhinoceroses among heaviest mammals thus of particular interest understand increase. Here, we present a morphofunctional study shape variation long bones five living rhinos how vary between these relation with size, phylogeny. We used three dimensional geometric morphometrics comparative analyses quantify variation. Our results indicate that display morphological differences depending on bones. The humerus femur exhibit noticeable interspecific African Asiatic rhinos, associated significant effect mass. radius ulna more strongly correlated While tibia exhibits both phylogeny mass, fibula displays greatest intraspecific highlight distinct morphotypes bone shape, which appear accordance influence also appears unequally expressed different Body increase extant is marked general robustness, pronounced attachments for muscles development medial parts underlines features not similar other heavy as elephants hippos, suggesting bearing constraint can lead responses.