Interspecific variation in the limb long bones among modern rhinoceroses-extent and drivers.

ABSTRACT: Among amniotes, numerous lineages are subject to an evolutionary trend toward body mass and size increases. Large terrestrial species may face important constraints linked to weight bearing, and the limb segments are particularly affected by such constraints due to their role in body support and locomotion. Such groups showing important limb modifications related to high body mass have been called "graviportal." Often considered graviportal, rhinoceroses are among the heaviest terrestrial mammals and are thus of particular interest to understand the limb modifications related to body mass and size increase. Here, we present a morphofunctional study of the shape variation of the limb long bones among the five living rhinos to understand how the shape may vary between these species in relati

SUBMITTER: Mallet C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6766374 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature