Evolutionary trends and stasis in carnassial teeth of European Pleistocene wolf Canis lupus (Mammalia, Canidae)

摘要: Abstract The evolutionary trends of tooth size in quaternary carnivores support an almost direct association with climate. However, phenotypic trait may follow distinct tempo and mode evolution such as Brownian, Ornstein–Uhlenbeck or random walk. Here, we investigated the morphometric variations carnassial teeth European wolf ( Canis lupus ) by means modern statistical tools. Recent contributions highlighted linear increase trend through Pleistocene, but those differences time have not been tested using strategies. Examining a wide sample measurements carnassials extinct extant wolves (486 M 1 491 P 4 ), which model (random walk, stasis, Ornstein–Uhlenbeck) better explains dimensional pattern at continental scale regional (France Italy). Our results clearly show different models for C . Lower upper entire are characterized directional trend, whereas Italian French subsets fluctuation time. dimensions directly correlated climate changes during Middle–Late Pleistocene Holocene, they possibly spread cold mega-fauna Europe, thus dietary regime.