Meeting Abstract

129-1  Sunday, Jan. 8 10:00 – 10:15  Geometric morphometric approaches to inferring bite force and diet in extinct strepsirrhines. FABRE, A.-C.*; DUMONT, M.; WALL, C.E.; BREWER, D.; EHMKE, E.; WELSER, K.; DUMONT, E.; GODFREY, L.; HERREL, A.; UMR7179 CNRS/MNHN, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France; psala Universitet, Evolutionsbiologiskt Centrum EBC Norbyv. 18A, 752 36 Uppsala; Duke University, Evolutionary Anthropology, 27708 Durham, NC, USA; Duke Lemur Center, 3705 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27705; Duke Lemur Center, 3705 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27705; Duke Lemur Center, 3705 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27705; UMass Amherst, Biology, Amherst, MA 01002; UMass Amherst, Anthropology, Amherst, MA 01002; UMR7179 CNRS/MNHN, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France fabreac@gmail.com http://anne-claire-fabre.weebly.com/

The cranial system in mammals is highly constrained. Feeding forces, phylogeny, and the need to protect the brain and sensory organs are all important factors driving the evolution of the shape of the skull. Here, we explore relationships between bite force, cranial, and mandibular shape to infer the dietary ecology and bite force in two extinct species of strepsirrhines. We collected data on molar and incisor bite forces and analyzed cranial and mandible shape using 3D geometric morphometric approaches for 18 species of strepsirrhines that differ in feeding ecology. In addition we use data on mandibular shape to infer the diet of two extinct species, Archaeolemur edwardsi and Hadropithecus stenognathus and use the observed co-variation between bite force and mandible shape in extant taxa to infer bite forces in these taxa. Our results show that bite forces vary across species with dietary specialists differing in bite force, cranial shape, and mandibular shape. The covariation between bite force and mandibular shape was strong and based on these data we inferred molar bite forces of 212 and 237 in A. edwardsi and H. stenognathus respectively. Finally, mandibular shape data demonstrate that both species were folivores supporting the most recent stable isotope data for these species. [supported by NSF-BCS-1062239 to CEW]