Variation of cranial and dental measurements and dental correlations in the pampean fox ( Dusicyon gymnocercus)

• Published in: Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Prevosti, F. J., Lamas, L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2006
• Subjects: Canis lupus; Vulpes lagopus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00187.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1469-7998.2006.00187.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00187.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00187.x; https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00187.x

Abstract The knowledge of the craniodental variability of South American canids is mainly anecdotal, and the variability and dental correlation of living canids have only been studied in several species of holarctic foxes ( Vulpes vulpes , Vulpes lagopus and Urocyon cinereoargeteus ) and Canis lupus . These studies have shown that the last molars, canines and incisors are the most variable and the central molars and premolars are the least variable, and that correlations are highest among the posterior premolars. This pattern has been accounted for by developmental factors, functional utility and tooth complexity. In this paper the pattern of dental correlation and variability of craniodental measurements in the South American fox Dusicyon gymnocercus is studied, with the aim of checking the extension of the pattern observed in other species and contrasting previous hypotheses. The most variable in D. gymnocercus measurements are some cranial widths, width of the incisors, lower canine and lower last molar, whereas others such as width of the braincase, length of the upper carnassials, and first and second lower and upper molars have lower variability. The premolar region is the most correlated, in terms of values and number of significant correlation coefficients. The results show that measurement error is negatively correlated with size of the variables, which could explain the bias found in this index as earlier authors have suggested, but the pattern captured by this index cannot be completely considered to be an artefact. The observed results confirm that the patterns of variability and correlation found in holarctic foxes are widespread in the family Canidae, and suggest the presence of an evolutionary constraint.