Skull Evolution Method and Analysis in The Rhinocerotidae: Phylogeny of Early Rhinocerotoids

Abstract

After phylogeny is measurably disposed of, cranial elements utilized essentially for rumination ought to change most with hypsodonty (high-delegated cheek teeth). These structures should be least phylogenetically restricted. Corollary: structures with significant common ancestry will integrate more morphologically. All living rhinoceroses and many extinct European Plio-Pleistocene species We examined skull, mandible, and upper tooth row form in the dorsal, lateral, and occlusal perspectives using two-dimensional geometric morphometrics. Hypsodonty index was employed to represent eating behaviours. We divided form variation into function, phylogeny, and size using phylogenetically independent comparisons and variation partitioning. We used Escoufier's RV coefficient to evaluate morphological reconciliation. The mandible and upper tooth column covariate most with hypsodonty and least with phylogeny. Skull morphology corresponds least with hypsodonty and most with phylogeny. Low morphological joining between the top tooth line and different parts recommends it is the least phylogenetically restricted. As predicted, the chewing area is confined by function rather than phylogeny, unlike others.