COMPARING THE BODY MASS VARIATIONS IN ENDEMIC INSULAR SPECIES OF THE GENUS <em>PROLAGUS</em> (OCHOTONIDAE, LAGOMORPHA) IN THE PLEISTOCENE OF SARDINIA (ITALY)

Prolagus figaro and P. sardus are part of an endemic insular anagenetic lineage that populated Sardinia since the earliest Late Pliocene to Holocene. BM of some populations of these two species was calculated using regression models. The best BM proxies for Prolagus are: femur length, zeugopod measu...

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Main Authors: BLANCA MONCUNILL-SOLÉ, CATERINELLA TUVERI, MARISA ARCA, CHIARA ANGELONE
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Milano University Press 2016-03-01
Series:Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia
Subjects:
Online Access:https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/6905
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author BLANCA MONCUNILL-SOLÉ
CATERINELLA TUVERI
MARISA ARCA
CHIARA ANGELONE
author_facet BLANCA MONCUNILL-SOLÉ
CATERINELLA TUVERI
MARISA ARCA
CHIARA ANGELONE
author_sort BLANCA MONCUNILL-SOLÉ
collection DOAJ
description Prolagus figaro and P. sardus are part of an endemic insular anagenetic lineage that populated Sardinia since the earliest Late Pliocene to Holocene. BM of some populations of these two species was calculated using regression models. The best BM proxies for Prolagus are: femur length, zeugopod measurements and distal humerus diameter. The anagenetic lineage show a BM increase of ca 20% from the populations of P. figaro (398−436 g) to P. sardus (504−525 g). The trend shown by the size of lower third premolar, even if not directly comparable with BM, is opposite (ca -30% at the transition P. figaro−P. sardus). Compared to P. cf. calpensis, a continental species of similar age, BM of P. figaro is ca +25%. The comparison with the insular endemic P. apricenicus evidenced differences in BM range and timespan required to attain it, due to the different size and palaeogeographical situation of the islands. Insular endemic Prolagus follow the small mammal pattern of Island Rule. Mein’s (1983) biphasic model seems applicable to the evolution of P. figaro. A tachytelic phase followed by a bradytelic one seems to characterize also the appearance of P. sardus, at least for dental traits, a process probably triggered by important variations of abiotic and biotic traits of the environment, as indicated by the turnover that marks the onset of the Dragonara subcomplex. The prediction of life history traits and other biological attributes of Sardinian Prolagus using BM should be considered with caution due to the complexity of ecological selective regimes of Sardinia.
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spelling doaj.art-4eb23882362f45e9ae0e707d79ff735e2023-09-02T13:20:13ZengMilano University PressRivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia0035-68832039-49422016-03-01122110.13130/2039-4942/69056141COMPARING THE BODY MASS VARIATIONS IN ENDEMIC INSULAR SPECIES OF THE GENUS <em>PROLAGUS</em> (OCHOTONIDAE, LAGOMORPHA) IN THE PLEISTOCENE OF SARDINIA (ITALY)BLANCA MONCUNILL-SOLÉCATERINELLA TUVERIMARISA ARCACHIARA ANGELONEProlagus figaro and P. sardus are part of an endemic insular anagenetic lineage that populated Sardinia since the earliest Late Pliocene to Holocene. BM of some populations of these two species was calculated using regression models. The best BM proxies for Prolagus are: femur length, zeugopod measurements and distal humerus diameter. The anagenetic lineage show a BM increase of ca 20% from the populations of P. figaro (398−436 g) to P. sardus (504−525 g). The trend shown by the size of lower third premolar, even if not directly comparable with BM, is opposite (ca -30% at the transition P. figaro−P. sardus). Compared to P. cf. calpensis, a continental species of similar age, BM of P. figaro is ca +25%. The comparison with the insular endemic P. apricenicus evidenced differences in BM range and timespan required to attain it, due to the different size and palaeogeographical situation of the islands. Insular endemic Prolagus follow the small mammal pattern of Island Rule. Mein’s (1983) biphasic model seems applicable to the evolution of P. figaro. A tachytelic phase followed by a bradytelic one seems to characterize also the appearance of P. sardus, at least for dental traits, a process probably triggered by important variations of abiotic and biotic traits of the environment, as indicated by the turnover that marks the onset of the Dragonara subcomplex. The prediction of life history traits and other biological attributes of Sardinian Prolagus using BM should be considered with caution due to the complexity of ecological selective regimes of Sardinia.https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/6905Body massregression modelspostcranial bonesIsland RuleMediterranean islandsProlagus figaroP. sardus.
spellingShingle BLANCA MONCUNILL-SOLÉ
CATERINELLA TUVERI
MARISA ARCA
CHIARA ANGELONE
COMPARING THE BODY MASS VARIATIONS IN ENDEMIC INSULAR SPECIES OF THE GENUS <em>PROLAGUS</em> (OCHOTONIDAE, LAGOMORPHA) IN THE PLEISTOCENE OF SARDINIA (ITALY)
Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia
Body mass
regression models
postcranial bones
Island Rule
Mediterranean islands
Prolagus figaro
P. sardus.
title COMPARING THE BODY MASS VARIATIONS IN ENDEMIC INSULAR SPECIES OF THE GENUS <em>PROLAGUS</em> (OCHOTONIDAE, LAGOMORPHA) IN THE PLEISTOCENE OF SARDINIA (ITALY)
title_full COMPARING THE BODY MASS VARIATIONS IN ENDEMIC INSULAR SPECIES OF THE GENUS <em>PROLAGUS</em> (OCHOTONIDAE, LAGOMORPHA) IN THE PLEISTOCENE OF SARDINIA (ITALY)
title_fullStr COMPARING THE BODY MASS VARIATIONS IN ENDEMIC INSULAR SPECIES OF THE GENUS <em>PROLAGUS</em> (OCHOTONIDAE, LAGOMORPHA) IN THE PLEISTOCENE OF SARDINIA (ITALY)
title_full_unstemmed COMPARING THE BODY MASS VARIATIONS IN ENDEMIC INSULAR SPECIES OF THE GENUS <em>PROLAGUS</em> (OCHOTONIDAE, LAGOMORPHA) IN THE PLEISTOCENE OF SARDINIA (ITALY)
title_short COMPARING THE BODY MASS VARIATIONS IN ENDEMIC INSULAR SPECIES OF THE GENUS <em>PROLAGUS</em> (OCHOTONIDAE, LAGOMORPHA) IN THE PLEISTOCENE OF SARDINIA (ITALY)
title_sort comparing the body mass variations in endemic insular species of the genus em prolagus em ochotonidae lagomorpha in the pleistocene of sardinia italy
topic Body mass
regression models
postcranial bones
Island Rule
Mediterranean islands
Prolagus figaro
P. sardus.
url https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/6905
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