Substrate use drives the macroevolution of mammalian tail length diversity.

ABSTRACT: External length is one of the most conspicuous aspects of mammalian tail morphological diversity. Factors that influence the evolution of tail length diversity have been proposed for particular taxa, including habitat, diet, locomotion and climate. However, no study to date has investigated such factors at a large phylogenetic scale to elucidate what drives tail length evolution in and across mammalian lineages. We use phylogenetic comparative methods to test a priori hypotheses regarding proposed factors influencing tail length, explore possible interactions between factors using evolutionary best-fit models, and map evolutionary patterns of tail length for specific mammalian lineages. Across mammals, substrate use is a significant factor influencing tail length, with arboreal spec

SUBMITTER: Mincer ST 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7031669 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature