Abstract
The mammalian masticatory apparatus is a highly plastic region of the skull and thus subjected to singular ontogenetic trajectories. Here we present the first descriptive allometric pattern study of mandible among the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), based on the study of 37 specimens. Allometric changes in shape were analyzed using geometric morphometrics techniques and the pattern of allometry was visualized. A multivariate regression of the shape component on size, estimated by the logarithm of centroid size, appeared as highly significant. Therefore, a major component of shape variation in these mandibles is related to the attainment of adult size (i.e., growth).
Highlights
Being the mammalian masticatory apparatus a highly plastic region of the skull, rodents are some of the most highly specialized mammals in this respect (Hautier et al, 2011)
We examined 37 specimens of Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris held in the collections of the Departamento de Biología of the Universidad del Valle in Cali (Colombia) and Instituto de Ciencias Naturales of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia
The mandible is not a perfect flat object, we considered that the two-dimensional approach implied quite a limited loss of information, and we proceeded with the morphometric analyses
Summary
Being the mammalian masticatory apparatus a highly plastic region of the skull, rodents are some of the most highly specialized mammals in this respect (Hautier et al, 2011). Morphometrics is defined as the quantitative description, analysis and interpretation of shape and variation of structures in biology (Richtsmeier et al, 2002; Galan, 2016). We analyzed patterns of allometric variation in mandible size and shape of a hystricomorph species, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, the capybara, the largest member of the order Rodentia.
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