The striking resemblance of long-snouted aquatic mammals and reptiles has long been
considered an example of morphological convergence, yet the true cause of this similarity …

Studies have suggested that the proportions of the rostrum and mandible (from short and
broad to elongate and narrow) in toothed whales (odontocetes) may be associated with the …

Convergent evolution can provide insights into the predictability of, and constraints on, the
evolution of biodiversity. One striking example of convergence is seen in the 'river dolphins' …

The diversity of the dolphin family was established during a short window of time. We
investigated delphinid skull shape evolution, mapping shapes on an up-to-date nuclear …

Background Unlike most mammals, toothed whale (Odontoceti) skulls lack symmetry in the
nasal and facial (nasofacial) region. This asymmetry is hypothesised to relate to …

The role of environmental selection in generating novel morphology is often taken for
granted, and morphology is generally assumed to be adaptive. Bovids (antelopes and …

Despite only comprising seven species, extant sea turtles (Cheloniidae and
Dermochelyidae) display great ecological diversity, with most species inhabiting a unique …

Phenotypic similarities between distantly related marsupials and placentals are commonly
presented as examples of convergence and support for the role of adaptive evolution in …

Extant and fossil crocodilians have long been divided into taxonomic and/or ecological
groups based on broad patterns of skull shape, particularly the relative length and width of …

Odontoceti and Mysticeti (toothed and baleen whales) originated from Eocene archaeocetes
that had evolved from terrestrial artiodactyls. Cranial asymmetry is known in odontocetes …