Dental Shape Variation and Phylogenetic Signal in the Rattini Tribe Species of Mainland Southeast Asia

Hulme-Beaman, A ORCID: 0000-0001-8130-9648, Claude, J, Chaval, Y, Evin, A, Morand, S, Vigne, JD, Dobney, K ORCID: 0000-0001-9036-4681 and Cucchi, T (2019) Dental Shape Variation and Phylogenetic Signal in the Rattini Tribe Species of Mainland Southeast Asia. Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 26 (3). pp. 435-446.

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Official URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10914...

Abstract

© 2018 The Author(s) The Rattini tribe comprises some of the most specious genera i n the mammalian kingdom. Many of these species are also highly morphologically conserved. As a result, identifying Rattini tribe animals, particularly those of the Rattus genus, to species level is extremely difficult. Problems with identification of conservative morphologies, particularly of the skeleton, have led to difficulties in understanding the fossil remains and as a result the systematics of this group. Here, we apply geometric morphometrics to the first lower molar of 14 species of the Rattini tribe. We find that the morphological data present a strong phylogenetic signal. However, within Rattus, this signal is rather complex and possibly hints at rapid evolutionary shape and size changes. In modern species, it is possible to identify specimens to species level with a good degree of confidence. We find that using both size and shape together affords further confidence with identification. However, we caution against the over-reliance on size in environments with unknown species composition and climate, particularly in archaeological contexts. This approach should prove to be a useful tool for identifying fossil and sub-fossil remains, particularly where biomolecular markers are absent in circumstances of poor preservation.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Rattini tribe, geometric morphometrics, dental morphology, phylogenetic signal, identification, Southeast Asia
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	01 Feb 2018 09:06
Last Modified:	15 Dec 2022 09:54
DOI:	10.1007/s10914-017-9423-8
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-017-9423-8
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3017279