[en] Cetaceans represent the most diverse clade of extant marine tetrapods. Although the restructuring of oceans could have contributed to their diversity, other factors might also be involved. Similar to ichthyosaurs and sharks, variation of morphological traits could have promoted the colonization of new ecological niches and supported their diversification. By combining morphological data describing the axial skeleton of 73 cetacean species with phylogenetic comparative methods, we demonstrate that the vertebral morphology of cetaceans is associated with their habitat. All riverine and coastal species possess a small body size, lengthened vertebrae and a low vertebral count compared with open ocean species. Extant cetaceans have followed two distinct evolutionary pathways relative to their ecology. Whereas most offshore species such as baleen whales evolved towards an increased body size while retaining a low vertebral count, small oceanic dolphins underwent deep modifications of their axial skeleton with an extremely high number of short vertebrae. Our comparative analyses provide evidence these vertebral modifications have potentially operated as key innovations. These novelties contributed to their explosive radiation, resulting in an efficient swimming style that provides energetic advantages to small-sized species.
Research center :
FOCUS - Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch - ULiège
Disciplines :
Zoology
Author, co-author :
Gillet, Amandine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Morphologie fonctionnelle et évolutive
Frederich, Bruno ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Morphologie fonctionnelle et évolutive
Parmentier, Eric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Morphologie fonctionnelle et évolutive
Language :
English
Title :
Divergent evolutionary morphology of the axial skeleton as a potential key innovation in modern cetaceans
Publication date :
27 November 2019
Journal title :
Proceedings of the Royal Society. Biological Sciences
FP7 - 226506 - SYNTHESYS - Synthesis of Systematic Resources
Name of the research project :
Multidisciplinary study of the ecomorphology of cetaceans
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE] FWB - Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles [BE] ULiège - Université de Liège [BE] EU - European Union [BE] Odyssea asbl CE - Commission Européenne [BE]
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