Non-allometric variation in the Brown-Thorated sloth Bradypus variegatus (Schinz, 1825) skull (Mammalia, Pilosa, Bradypodidade)

Brown-throated sloth Bradypus variegatus (Schinz, 1825) is a monomorphic mammal, and its skull ontogeny is poorly known. Here, we present a study of the ontogenetic allometric relationship between skull size and shape in 21 specimens of different sizes, for which size and shape were determined by me...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Parés Casanova, Pere-Miquel
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2019
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:10459.1/66666
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3989/graellsia.2019.v75.242
http://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/66666
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Allometry
Choloepus
Three-toed sloth
Two-toed sloth
Xenarthra
Description
Summary:Brown-throated sloth Bradypus variegatus (Schinz, 1825) is a monomorphic mammal, and its skull ontogeny is poorly known. Here, we present a study of the ontogenetic allometric relationship between skull size and shape in 21 specimens of different sizes, for which size and shape were determined by means of geometric morphometric methods. Results indicate that skull shape variation can hardly be explained by skull size. Several studies have shown unique morphological traits of sloths from mammalian norms, affecting varied phenotypic traits from skeletal parts to soft tissues. This non-allometric scaling of skull form in sloth can be seen as another uniqueness of this taxonomic group.