Inferring Locomotion Habits of Modern and Fossil Lagomorphs Using Ecomorphological Analysis of Postcrania
Abstract
Members of the order Lagomorpha have been successful members of terrestrial ecosystems across North America since the late Eocene. Despite their relatively conservative body plan and historically low diversity, they have evolved a diverse range of locomotor habits, including saltatorial, cursorial, fossorial, scansorial, and semiaquatic behaviors. These locomotor habits reflect ecological roles of species and can be inferred in extinct species from morphology of the appendicular skeleton. Ecomorphological studies have been successfully used to infer locomotor habits of many extinct animal groups, most notably Rodentia, sister group to Lagomorpha. Here, an ecomorphological analysis was conducted with the goal of inferring locomotor habits of extinct lagomorphs using a large sample of modern lagomorphs for comparison. A set of 15 linear measurements were gathered from 5 appendicular skeletal elements of extant and extinct species of lagomorphs, which were transformed into 12 indices that reflect limb proportions and lever arms of major muscles. Relationships between these indices and locomotor habits were examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and discriminant function analysis (DFA). Results of these tests reveal significant and reliable indicators of locomotor ecology in the appendicular skeleton of lagomorphs. When applied to extinct lagomorphs, the results generally align with other qualitative studies of fossil lagomorph locomotor ecology. Results also highlight that diversification of lagomorph locomotor habits coincides with diversification of lagomorphs during intervals of major climate and habitat changes during the Cenozoic.
Start Time
16-4-2025 9:00 AM
End Time
16-4-2025 11:30 AM
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Category
Science, Technology and Engineering
Student Type
Graduate Student - Masters
Faculty Mentor
Joshua Samuels
Faculty Department
Geosciences
Inferring Locomotion Habits of Modern and Fossil Lagomorphs Using Ecomorphological Analysis of Postcrania
Members of the order Lagomorpha have been successful members of terrestrial ecosystems across North America since the late Eocene. Despite their relatively conservative body plan and historically low diversity, they have evolved a diverse range of locomotor habits, including saltatorial, cursorial, fossorial, scansorial, and semiaquatic behaviors. These locomotor habits reflect ecological roles of species and can be inferred in extinct species from morphology of the appendicular skeleton. Ecomorphological studies have been successfully used to infer locomotor habits of many extinct animal groups, most notably Rodentia, sister group to Lagomorpha. Here, an ecomorphological analysis was conducted with the goal of inferring locomotor habits of extinct lagomorphs using a large sample of modern lagomorphs for comparison. A set of 15 linear measurements were gathered from 5 appendicular skeletal elements of extant and extinct species of lagomorphs, which were transformed into 12 indices that reflect limb proportions and lever arms of major muscles. Relationships between these indices and locomotor habits were examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and discriminant function analysis (DFA). Results of these tests reveal significant and reliable indicators of locomotor ecology in the appendicular skeleton of lagomorphs. When applied to extinct lagomorphs, the results generally align with other qualitative studies of fossil lagomorph locomotor ecology. Results also highlight that diversification of lagomorph locomotor habits coincides with diversification of lagomorphs during intervals of major climate and habitat changes during the Cenozoic.