Finite Element Analysis of the Cingulata Jaw: An Ecomorphological Approach to Armadillo's Diets.

ABSTRACT: Finite element analyses (FEA) were applied to assess the lower jaw biomechanics of cingulate xenarthrans: 14 species of armadillos as well as one Pleistocene pampathere (11 extant taxa and the extinct forms Vassallia, Eutatus and Macroeuphractus). The principal goal of this work is to comparatively assess the biomechanical capabilities of the mandible based on FEA and to relate the obtained stress patterns with diet preferences and variability, in extant and extinct species through an ecomorphology approach. The results of FEA showed that omnivorous species have stronger mandibles than insectivorous species. Moreover, this latter group of species showed high variability, including some similar biomechanical features of the insectivorous Tolypeutes matacus and Chlamyphorus truncatus to thos

SUBMITTER: Serrano-Fochs S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4412537 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature