Patterns of covariation in the masticatory apparatus of hystricognathous rodents: Implications for evolution and diversification

The mammalian masticatory apparatus is a highly plastic region of the skull. In this study, a quantification of shape variation, the separation of phylogeny from ecology in the genesis of shape brings new insights on the relationships between morphological changes in the cranium, mandible, and muscle architecture. Our study focuses on the Ctenohystrica, a clade that is remarkably diverse and exemplifies a rich evolutionary history in the Old and...