D. Rex Mitchell
YOU?
Author Swipe
View article: Cracking the case: Differential adaptations to hard biting dominate cranial shape in rat-kangaroos (Potoroidae: <i>Bettongia</i>) with divergent diets
Cracking the case: Differential adaptations to hard biting dominate cranial shape in rat-kangaroos (Potoroidae: <i>Bettongia</i>) with divergent diets Open
Functional adaptation in the mammalian jaw is often best predicted by the hardest bites an animal makes. Therefore, even when closely related species have otherwise divergent diets, a shared biomechanically challenging resource should be r…
View article: Testing hypotheses of skull function with comparative finite element analysis: three methods reveal contrasting results
Testing hypotheses of skull function with comparative finite element analysis: three methods reveal contrasting results Open
Comparative finite element analysis often involves standardising aspects of models to test equivalent loading scenarios across species. However, regarding feeding biomechanics of the vertebrate skull, what is considered ‘equivalent’ can de…
View article: Testing hypotheses of skull function with comparative finite element analysis: three methods reveal contrasting results
Testing hypotheses of skull function with comparative finite element analysis: three methods reveal contrasting results Open
Comparative finite element analysis often involves standardising aspects of the models to test equivalent loading scenarios across species. However, in the context of feeding biomechanics of the vertebrate skull, what is considered “equiva…
View article: <i>Pongo</i>'s ecological diversity from dental macrowear analysis
<i>Pongo</i>'s ecological diversity from dental macrowear analysis Open
Objectives Orangutans are found in tropical rainforests of Borneo ( Pongo pygmaeus ) and Sumatra ( Pongo abelii and Pongo tapanuliensis ), and they are primarily considered frugivorous species. However, ecological studies reported differen…
View article: Beyond <scp>CREA</scp>: Evolutionary patterns of non‐allometric shape variation and divergence in a highly allometric clade of murine rodents
Beyond <span>CREA</span>: Evolutionary patterns of non‐allometric shape variation and divergence in a highly allometric clade of murine rodents Open
The shared functions of the skull are thought to result in common evolutionary patterns in mammalian cranial shape. Craniofacial evolutionary allometry (CREA) is a particularly prominent pattern where larger species display proportionally …
View article: The mechanical properties of bettong and potoroo foods
The mechanical properties of bettong and potoroo foods Open
Potoroid marsupials (bettongs and potoroos of the family Potoroidae) are considered ecosystem engineers because of the roles they play in maintaining biodiversity. However, severe declines since European arrival have necessitated intense c…
View article: Functionally mediated cranial allometry evidenced in a genus of rock-wallabies
Functionally mediated cranial allometry evidenced in a genus of rock-wallabies Open
In assessments of skeletal variation, allometry (disproportionate change of shape with size) is often corrected to examine size-independent variation for hypotheses relating to function. However, size-related trade-offs in functional deman…
View article: Facing the facts: adaptive trade‐offs along body size ranges determine mammalian craniofacial scaling
Facing the facts: adaptive trade‐offs along body size ranges determine mammalian craniofacial scaling Open
The mammalian cranium (skull without lower jaw) is representative of mammalian diversity and is thus of particular interest to mammalian biologists across disciplines. One widely retrieved pattern accompanying mammalian cranial diversifica…
View article: Facing the facts: Adaptive trade-offs along body size ranges determine mammalian craniofacial scaling
Facing the facts: Adaptive trade-offs along body size ranges determine mammalian craniofacial scaling Open
The mammalian cranium (skull without lower jaw) is representative of mammalian diversity and is thus of particular interest to mammalian biologists across disciplines. One widely retrieved pattern accompanying mammalian cranial diversifica…
View article: Differential developmental rates and demographics in Red Kangaroo (<i>Osphranter rufus</i>) populations separated by the dingo barrier fence
Differential developmental rates and demographics in Red Kangaroo (<i>Osphranter rufus</i>) populations separated by the dingo barrier fence Open
Decommissioning the dingo barrier fence has been suggested to reduce destructive dingo control and encourage a free transfer of biota between environments in Australia. Yet the potential impacts that over a century of predator exclusion mi…
View article: Homo sapiens and Neanderthals share high cerebral cortex integration into adulthood
Homo sapiens and Neanderthals share high cerebral cortex integration into adulthood Open
Supporting data and code to " Homo sapiens and Neanderthals share high cerebral context integration into adulthood " ## data 1 mod_data: Averaged per species landmarks coordinates + phylogenetic tree + modular partition + mesh3d 2 onto_dat…
View article: New Zealand's extinct giant raptor (<i>Hieraaetus moorei</i>) killed like an eagle, ate like a condor
New Zealand's extinct giant raptor (<i>Hieraaetus moorei</i>) killed like an eagle, ate like a condor Open
The extinct Haast's eagle or harpagornis ( Hieraaetus moorei ) is the largest known eagle. Historically, it was first considered a predator, then a scavenger, but most recent authors have favoured an active hunting ecology. However, the ve…
View article: Bolstering geometric morphometrics sample sizes with damaged and pathologic specimens: Is near enough good enough?
Bolstering geometric morphometrics sample sizes with damaged and pathologic specimens: Is near enough good enough? Open
Obtaining coordinate data for geometric morphometric studies often involves the sampling of dry skeletal specimens from museum collections. But many specimens exhibit damage and/or pathologic conditions. Such specimens can be considered in…
View article: More Challenging Diets Sustain Feeding Performance: Applications Toward the Captive Rearing of Wildlife
More Challenging Diets Sustain Feeding Performance: Applications Toward the Captive Rearing of Wildlife Open
Synopsis The rescue and rehabilitation of young fauna is of substantial importance to conservation. However, it has been suggested that incongruous diets offered in captive environments may alter craniofacial morphology and hinder the succ…
View article: Variation in the strength of allometry drives rates of evolution in primate brain shape
Variation in the strength of allometry drives rates of evolution in primate brain shape Open
Large brains are a defining feature of primates, as is a clear allometric trend between body mass and brain size. However, important questions on the macroevolution of brain shape in primates remain unanswered. Here we address two: (i), do…
View article: Supplementary material from "Variation in the strength of allometry drives rates of evolution in primate brain shape"
Supplementary material from "Variation in the strength of allometry drives rates of evolution in primate brain shape" Open
Large brains are a defining feature of primates, as is a clear allometric trend between body mass and brain size. However, important questions on the macroevolution of brain shape in primates remain unanswered. Here we address two: (i), do…
View article: The anatomy of a crushing bite: The specialised cranial mechanics of a giant extinct kangaroo
The anatomy of a crushing bite: The specialised cranial mechanics of a giant extinct kangaroo Open
The Sthenurinae were a diverse subfamily of short-faced kangaroos that arose in the Miocene and diversified during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. Many species possessed skull morphologies that were relatively structurally reinforced with bo…
View article: The biomechanics of foraging determines face length among kangaroos and their relatives
The biomechanics of foraging determines face length among kangaroos and their relatives Open
Increasing body size is accompanied by facial elongation across a number of mammalian taxa. This trend forms the basis of a proposed evolutionary rule, cranial evolutionary allometry (CREA). However, facial length has also been widely asso…
View article: Supplementary material from "The biomechanics of foraging determines face length among kangaroos and their relatives"
Supplementary material from "The biomechanics of foraging determines face length among kangaroos and their relatives" Open
Increasing body size is accompanied by facial elongation across a number of mammalian taxa. This trend forms the basis of a proposed evolutionary rule, cranial evolutionary allometry (CREA). However, facial length has also been widely asso…
View article: Octopus kapalae, sp. nov.: A new species of 'Octopus' from South-eastern Australia
Octopus kapalae, sp. nov.: A new species of 'Octopus' from South-eastern Australia Open
(Uploaded by Plazi from the Biodiversity Heritage Library) No abstract provided.