Zhang Zhi-Gui, Ge De-Yan
Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Dongwuxue Yanjiu. 2014 Jul;35(4):287-93. doi: 10.13918/j.issn.2095-8137.2014.4.287.
In the present study, postnatal ontogenetic size and shape changes in the cranium of two lagomorph species, the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) and woolly hare (Lepus oiostolus), were investigated by geometric morphometrics. The ontogenetic size and shape changes of their cranium exhibited different growth patterns in response to similar environmental pressures on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The overall size change in the cranium of the plateau pika was slower than that of the woolly hare. The percentage of ontogenetic shape variance explained by size in the woolly hare was greater than that in the plateau pika. The overall shape of the cranium was narrowed in both species, and morphological components in relation to neural maturity showed negative allometry, while those responsible for muscular development showed isometric or positive allometry. The most remarkable shape variations in the plateau pika were associated with food acquisition (temporalis development), though other remarkable shape variations in the incisive and palatal foramen in the ventral view were also observed. The most important shape change in the woolly hare was demonstrated by the elongation of the nasal bones, expansion of the supra-orbital process and shape variation of the neurocranium.
在本研究中，通过几何形态测量学研究了两种兔形目动物——高原鼠兔（Ochotona curzoniae）和藏兔（Lepus oiostolus）颅骨出生后的个体发育大小和形状变化。在青藏高原相似的环境压力下，它们颅骨的个体发育大小和形状变化呈现出不同的生长模式。高原鼠兔颅骨的整体大小变化比藏兔慢。藏兔颅骨形状个体发育差异中由大小解释的百分比高于高原鼠兔。两种物种的颅骨整体形状都变窄了。与神经成熟相关的形态成分呈负异速生长，而与肌肉发育相关的形态成分呈等速生长或正异速生长。高原鼠兔最显著的形状变化与食物获取（颞肌发育）有关，不过在腹侧视图中，门齿孔和腭孔也观察到了其他显著的形状变化。藏兔最重要形状变化表现为鼻骨延长、眶上突扩大和脑颅形状变化。
