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 …

How ecological opportunity relates to diversification is a central question in evolutionary
biology. However, there are few empirical examples of how ecological opportunity and …

1. Neotropical bat communities are characterized by a broad species diversity, which can be
achieved and maintained only through partitioning of the available resources. 2. Here …

In vertebrates, bite force is a measure of whole organism performance that is associated with
both cranial morphology and dietary ecology. Mechanistic studies of bite force production …

The exceptional diversity of neotropical bat communities is sustained by an intricate
partitioning of available resources among the member species. Trophical specialization is …

Mammals (class Mammalia) have evolved diverse craniofacial morphology to adapt to a
wide range of ecological niches. However, the genetic and developmental mechanisms …

The wide range of dietary niches filled by modern mammals is reflected in morphological
diversity of the feeding apparatus. Despite volumes of data on the biomechanics of feeding …

Among vertebrates, there is often a tight correlation between variation in cranial morphology
and diet. Yet, the relationships between morphological characteristics and feeding …

Models of mammalian mastication predict that bite force is affected by both the degree of
mouth opening (gape angle) and the point along the tooth row at which force is transferred …

Background Bats of the family Phyllostomidae show a unique diversity in feeding
specializations. This taxon includes species that are highly specialized on insects, blood …