Scapula and locomotion in Carnivora

Eloy Gálvez-López; Martin S Fischer

Scapula and locomotion in Carnivora

Archaeology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

A total of ten variables were measured from 175 individuals belonging to 91 carnivore species. A factor analysis of these variables was carried out to study the relation between scapular morphology and some aspects of the biology of the studied species, specifically size, locomotor behavior and habitat. Three factors accounting for 79.71% of total variability were obtained. The first factor (F1) was highly correlated to body mass, but at the same time it seemed related to the preferred habitat: forest and jungle species, as well as those living in watery environments, presented higher values of F1 than species with similar body mass that inhabited open spaces. The second factor (F2) appeared to be in relation with cursoriality, since positive values for cursorial species and negative
values for non-cursorial species were obtained. Finally, the third factor (F3) would be related to locomotor behavior, showing a tendency to increase F3 value from arboreal species to terrestrial ones (with scansorial and aquatic species displaying intermediate values). Unfortunately, this factor seemed to be highly influenced by taxonomic relationships at the family level. Consequently, no generalization could be postulated for Carnivora as a whole.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Journal of Morphology
Pages	1075
Volume	268
ISBN (Electronic)	1097-4687
Publication status	Published - 2007
Event	8th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology - Paris, France Duration: 16 Jul 2007 → 21 Jul 2007

Conference

Conference	8th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology
Abbreviated title	IVCM-8
Country/Territory	France
City	Paris
Period	16/07/07 → 21/07/07

Cite this

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title = "Scapula and locomotion in Carnivora",

abstract = "A total of ten variables were measured from 175 individuals belonging to 91 carnivore species. A factor analysis of these variables was carried out to study the relation between scapular morphology and some aspects of the biology of the studied species, specifically size, locomotor behavior and habitat. Three factors accounting for 79.71% of total variability were obtained. The first factor (F1) was highly correlated to body mass, but at the same time it seemed related to the preferred habitat: forest and jungle species, as well as those living in watery environments, presented higher values of F1 than species with similar body mass that inhabited open spaces. The second factor (F2) appeared to be in relation with cursoriality, since positive values for cursorial species and negativevalues for non-cursorial species were obtained. Finally, the third factor (F3) would be related to locomotor behavior, showing a tendency to increase F3 value from arboreal species to terrestrial ones (with scansorial and aquatic species displaying intermediate values). Unfortunately, this factor seemed to be highly influenced by taxonomic relationships at the family level. Consequently, no generalization could be postulated for Carnivora as a whole.",

author = "Eloy G{\'a}lvez-L{\'o}pez and Fischer, {Martin S}",

year = "2007",

language = "English",

volume = "268",

pages = "1075",

booktitle = "Journal of Morphology",

note = "8th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, IVCM-8 ; Conference date: 16-07-2007 Through 21-07-2007",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Scapula and locomotion in Carnivora

AU - Gálvez-López, Eloy

AU - Fischer, Martin S

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - A total of ten variables were measured from 175 individuals belonging to 91 carnivore species. A factor analysis of these variables was carried out to study the relation between scapular morphology and some aspects of the biology of the studied species, specifically size, locomotor behavior and habitat. Three factors accounting for 79.71% of total variability were obtained. The first factor (F1) was highly correlated to body mass, but at the same time it seemed related to the preferred habitat: forest and jungle species, as well as those living in watery environments, presented higher values of F1 than species with similar body mass that inhabited open spaces. The second factor (F2) appeared to be in relation with cursoriality, since positive values for cursorial species and negativevalues for non-cursorial species were obtained. Finally, the third factor (F3) would be related to locomotor behavior, showing a tendency to increase F3 value from arboreal species to terrestrial ones (with scansorial and aquatic species displaying intermediate values). Unfortunately, this factor seemed to be highly influenced by taxonomic relationships at the family level. Consequently, no generalization could be postulated for Carnivora as a whole.

AB - A total of ten variables were measured from 175 individuals belonging to 91 carnivore species. A factor analysis of these variables was carried out to study the relation between scapular morphology and some aspects of the biology of the studied species, specifically size, locomotor behavior and habitat. Three factors accounting for 79.71% of total variability were obtained. The first factor (F1) was highly correlated to body mass, but at the same time it seemed related to the preferred habitat: forest and jungle species, as well as those living in watery environments, presented higher values of F1 than species with similar body mass that inhabited open spaces. The second factor (F2) appeared to be in relation with cursoriality, since positive values for cursorial species and negativevalues for non-cursorial species were obtained. Finally, the third factor (F3) would be related to locomotor behavior, showing a tendency to increase F3 value from arboreal species to terrestrial ones (with scansorial and aquatic species displaying intermediate values). Unfortunately, this factor seemed to be highly influenced by taxonomic relationships at the family level. Consequently, no generalization could be postulated for Carnivora as a whole.

M3 - Conference contribution

VL - 268

SP - 1075

BT - Journal of Morphology

T2 - 8th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology

Y2 - 16 July 2007 through 21 July 2007

ER -