Jo. Matson et Dp. Christian, PATTERNS OF VARIATION IN CRANIAL SIZE AND SHAPE IN 2 COEXISTING GERBILLINE RODENTS, Zeitschrift fur Saugetierkunde, 61(5), 1996, pp. 295-303
Patterns of cranial variation within and between two coexisting gerbil
line rodents from the Namib Desert were assessed. Size of individual c
ranial characters is more variable in Desmodillus auricularis than in
Gerbillurus paeba, but G. paeba is more variable in aspects of morphol
ogical shape. This contrasting pattern of variability in size and in s
hape has implications for ecomorphological studies. Without informatio
n on the relative functional importance of these two aspects of morpho
logy, there appears to be little basis for using data on morphological
variation to derive ecological generalizations. It is suggested that
the strikingly different degree of correlation among cranial measureme
nts in these two species is related to differences in growth rates and
demographic seasonality.