The size and arrangement of fibres play a determinate role in the kinetic and energetic
performance of muscles. Extrapolations between fibre architecture and performance …

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 …

Morphological diversity may arise rapidly as a result of adaptation to novel ecological
opportunities, but early bursts of trait evolution are rarely observed. Rather, models of …

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 …

Dynamic changes in jaw movements and bite forces depend on muscle architectural and
neural factors that have rarely been compared within the same muscle. Here we investigate …

Summary 1 Bite force is an important performance measure for vertebrate and is related to a
variety of ecological challenges. Phyllostomid bats present highly diversified feeding habits …

The evolutionary integration of complex morphological structures is a macroevolutionary
pattern in which morphogenetic components evolve in a coordinated fashion, which can …

The morphology and biomechanics of the vertebrate skull reflect the physical properties of
diet and behaviors used in food acquisition and processing. We use phyllostomid bats, the …

Background The phyllostomid bats present the most extensive ecological and phenotypic
radiation known among mammal families. This group is an important model system for …