Sex-specific ontogenetic patterns of cranial morphology, theoretical bite force, and underlying jaw musculature in fishers and American martens.

摘要: The carnivoran cranium undergoes tremendous growth in size and development of shape to process prey as adults and, importantly, these ontogenetic processes can also differ between the sexes. How changes morphology actually relate underlying jaw musculature overall bite performance has rarely been investigated. In this study, I examined sex-specific cranial morphology, adductor muscles, theoretical force subadults fisher (Pekania pennanti) American marten (Martes americana). found evidence that alone does not completely explain increases forces other mammalian species. Instead, drives relative by broadening zygomatic arches enlargement sagittal crest, both which enable relatively larger muscles attach. contrast, examination sexual dimorphism within each age-class revealed did translate either size-corrected or physiological cross-sectional area muscles. These results reveal morphological variation have different influences on depending level intraspecific is (i.e. versus dimorphism).