A comparative analysis on cranial ontogeny of South American fur seals (Otariidae: Arctocephalus)

摘要: We analysed the cranial ontogeny of male Arctocephalus australis (Zimmermann, 1783) (N = 116), gazella (Peters, 1875) (N = 69), and tropicalis (Gray, 1872) (N = 51) to study skull growth its allometric patterns in genus. used 15 metric variables with bivariate multivariate approaches detect interspecific similarities differences between trends, which we discussed context phylogeny life history. found common trajectories 20% variables, detecting that adults were associated size. detected higher rates A. gazella than A. australis A. tropicalis, shape differences. Amongst three species, A. tropicalis was morphologically intermediate, showing additional trends A. australis, an intermediate position morphospace. Allometric also compared described for Otaria byronia (Peron, 1816) Mirounga leonina (Linnaeus, 1758). positive allometry mastoid width (MW) but negative O. byronia M. leonina. This could indicate males exhibited a delayed development MW. Finally, presence length postorbital constriction conservative pattern within otariids. © 2014 The Linnean Society London