Functional reorganisation of the cranial skeleton during the cynodont–mammaliaform transition
Abstract Skeletal simplification occurred in multiple vertebrate clades over the last 500 million years, including the evolution from premammalian cynodonts to mammals. This transition is characterised by the loss and reduction of cranial bones, the emergence of a novel jaw joint, and the rearrangem...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04742-0 |
| _version_ | 1797845836192808960 |
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| author | Stephan Lautenschlager Michael J. Fagan Zhe-Xi Luo Charlotte M. Bird Pamela Gill Emily J. Rayfield |
| author_facet | Stephan Lautenschlager Michael J. Fagan Zhe-Xi Luo Charlotte M. Bird Pamela Gill Emily J. Rayfield |
| author_sort | Stephan Lautenschlager |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Skeletal simplification occurred in multiple vertebrate clades over the last 500 million years, including the evolution from premammalian cynodonts to mammals. This transition is characterised by the loss and reduction of cranial bones, the emergence of a novel jaw joint, and the rearrangement of the jaw musculature. These modifications have long been hypothesised to increase skull strength and efficiency during feeding. Here, we combine digital reconstruction and biomechanical modelling to show that there is no evidence for an increase in cranial strength and biomechanical performance. Our analyses demonstrate the selective functional reorganisation of the cranial skeleton, leading to reduced stresses in the braincase and the skull roof but increased stresses in the zygomatic region through this transition. This cranial functional reorganisation, reduction in mechanical advantage, and overall miniaturisation in body size are linked with a dietary specialisation to insectivory, permitting the subsequent morphological and ecological diversification of the mammalian lineage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:45:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ca5b010dfd684fbf81372abc85f30bb5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:45:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ca5b010dfd684fbf81372abc85f30bb52023-04-16T11:22:26ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422023-04-016111310.1038/s42003-023-04742-0Functional reorganisation of the cranial skeleton during the cynodont–mammaliaform transitionStephan Lautenschlager0Michael J. Fagan1Zhe-Xi Luo2Charlotte M. Bird3Pamela Gill4Emily J. Rayfield5School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of BirminghamDepartment of Engineering, University of HullDepartment of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of ChicagoSchool of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of BirminghamEarth Sciences Department, The Natural History MuseumBristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of BristolAbstract Skeletal simplification occurred in multiple vertebrate clades over the last 500 million years, including the evolution from premammalian cynodonts to mammals. This transition is characterised by the loss and reduction of cranial bones, the emergence of a novel jaw joint, and the rearrangement of the jaw musculature. These modifications have long been hypothesised to increase skull strength and efficiency during feeding. Here, we combine digital reconstruction and biomechanical modelling to show that there is no evidence for an increase in cranial strength and biomechanical performance. Our analyses demonstrate the selective functional reorganisation of the cranial skeleton, leading to reduced stresses in the braincase and the skull roof but increased stresses in the zygomatic region through this transition. This cranial functional reorganisation, reduction in mechanical advantage, and overall miniaturisation in body size are linked with a dietary specialisation to insectivory, permitting the subsequent morphological and ecological diversification of the mammalian lineage.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04742-0 |
| spellingShingle | Stephan Lautenschlager Michael J. Fagan Zhe-Xi Luo Charlotte M. Bird Pamela Gill Emily J. Rayfield Functional reorganisation of the cranial skeleton during the cynodont–mammaliaform transition Communications Biology |
| title | Functional reorganisation of the cranial skeleton during the cynodont–mammaliaform transition |
| title_full | Functional reorganisation of the cranial skeleton during the cynodont–mammaliaform transition |
| title_fullStr | Functional reorganisation of the cranial skeleton during the cynodont–mammaliaform transition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional reorganisation of the cranial skeleton during the cynodont–mammaliaform transition |
| title_short | Functional reorganisation of the cranial skeleton during the cynodont–mammaliaform transition |
| title_sort | functional reorganisation of the cranial skeleton during the cynodont mammaliaform transition |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04742-0 |
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