Comparative masticatory myology in anteaters and its implications for interpreting morphological convergence in myrmecophagous placentals

• Published in: PeerJ (San Francisco, CA) Vol. 8; p. e9690
• Main Authors: Ferreira-Cardoso, Sérgio, Fabre, Pierre-Henri, de Thoisy, Benoit, Delsuc, Frédéric, Hautier, Lionel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States PeerJ. Ltd 03.09.2020; PeerJ, Inc; PeerJ; PeerJ Inc
• Subjects: Adaptability; Adaptation; Anatomy and Physiology; Anteaters; Comparative anatomy; Convergence; Convergent evolution; Cyclopedidae; Cyclopes didactylus; Dissection; Divergence; Ethanol; Evolutionary Studies; Feeding apparatus; Iodine; Jaw; Life Sciences; Mastication; Masticatory apparatus; Medical examination; Morphology; Muscles; Myology; Myrmecophaga tridactyla; Myrmecophagidae; Myrmecophagy; Natural history; Physiological aspects; Resource exploitation; Specialization; Tamandua tetradactyla; Zoological research; Zoology; Zygomatic arch; France; Myology; Myrmecophagy; Comparative anatomy; Anteaters; Convergence; Masticatory apparatus

Ecological adaptations of mammals are reflected in the morphological diversity of their feeding apparatus, which includes differences in tooth crown morphologies, variation in snout size, or changes in muscles of the feeding apparatus. The adaptability of their feeding apparatus allowed them to opti...