Myology of the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and the significance of hindlimb myology for carnivoran phylogeny

Abstract

The ocelot, Leopardus pardalis, is the most common small felid in the Neotropics. This study presents the first detailed examination of ocelot hindlimb myology, with the goals of further documenting myological diversity within Felidae and identifying characters that potentially carry a higher‐level phylogenetic signal. Hindlimbs of an adult female ocelot were dissected and documented via descriptions, photographs, and muscle maps. Data on muscular anatomy were then compared to existing descriptions of felids and added to an expanded database of hindlimb myological features in Carnivora. Results confirm previous observations that the hindlimb myology of felids is homogenous, with the exception of Acinonyx. Leopardus differs from other well‐documented felids in minor features, consistent with a very recent radiation of living felids. At the familial level, Felidae, along with Canidae and Hyaenidae are well‐defined by myological apomorphies, in contrast to most other carnivoran families. This accords well with other evidence indicating that these families are separated from their closest extant relatives by comparatively long branches, leaving considerable time for the acquisition of distinctive hindlimb myological features. At the highest level, most major clades within Carnivora (Feliformia, Caniformia, Arctoidea, Musteloidea) are supported by several potential myological apomorphies each.