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Can habitat characteristics shape vertebral morphology in dolphins? An example of two phylogenetically related species from southern South America
Author(s) -
Marchesi María Constanza,
Mora Matías Sebastián,
Pimper Lida Elena,
Crespo Enrique Alberto,
Goodall Rae Natalie Prosser
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/mms.12432
Subject(s) - biology , osteology , vertebral column , pelagic zone , habitat , cetacea , human echolocation , morphology (biology) , zoology , ecology , anatomy , neuroscience
Abstract Fast swimming pelagic cetacean species have osteological characteristics that promote a more stable spine in comparison to that of coastal species. The Peale's dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus australis ) and the hourglass dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus cruciger ) have a close phylogenetic relationship and are found in coastal and pelagic waters in the Southern Hemisphere, respectively. The aim of this work was to study the relationship between the vertebral column's morphology and its flexibility, across these species of contrasting habitats. Vertebral counts and multiple measurements of each vertebra were used to infer intervertebral flexibility. Bivariate plots and discriminant multivariate analyses were employed to compare each functional region along the vertebral column. Both species displayed a regionalization of the column into three stable regions and two flexible areas, which statistically differ in the proportion of the skeleton occupied in each species. While the Peale's dolphin has rounder vertebrae, associated with higher flexibility, the hourglass dolphin has disk‐shaped vertebrae and strongly inclined processes related to high stability. Although the species are closely related phylogenetically, vertebral morphology is influenced by a diverse set of ecological and behavioral factors, reflecting a high degree of vertebral plasticity within the genus.