Effect of Jaw Skull Size Variability on Bite Force in Meidum-Sized Cats
Start Date
2023 2:15 PM
Location
Alter Hall Poster Session 1 - 2nd floor
Abstract
In the cat family Felidae, bite force is related to their diet and feeding behaviors. Importantly, their skull and mandibles must have a strong enough bite and resistance to the external forces produced by their prey. Skull morphology can thus be used to determine the morphological differences between felids that specialize on large prey, small prey, or mixed prey. Nine indices that have been shown to reflect functional significance in the skull, jaw, and the corresponding musculature were computed and analyzed from skull and jaw measurements in 5 medium –sized felid species (Cheetah, Puma, Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard, and Leopard). All measurements were made on various aspects of the skulls from each species using an image processing and analyzing software (ImageJ) and were subjected to statistical analysis. Results indicate that the Clouded Leopard has the strongest bite force which is exemplified by large jaw muscles with high mechanical advantage. The other two leopards (Snow Leopard and Leopard) display relatively high mechanical advantage and, like the clouded leopard, take relatively large prey. However, there is no consistent pattern in similarity of indices among the leopard species in this study. Pumas and cheetahs both have small heads and short snouts with a large zygomatic arch width. The functional significance of the combination of these features in these two species is not clear, but they are known to prey on smaller sized animals such as deer and gazelle, and often lose their kill to larger predators such as lions, hyenas and leopards.
Effect of Jaw Skull Size Variability on Bite Force in Meidum-Sized Cats
Alter Hall Poster Session 1 - 2nd floor
In the cat family Felidae, bite force is related to their diet and feeding behaviors. Importantly, their skull and mandibles must have a strong enough bite and resistance to the external forces produced by their prey. Skull morphology can thus be used to determine the morphological differences between felids that specialize on large prey, small prey, or mixed prey. Nine indices that have been shown to reflect functional significance in the skull, jaw, and the corresponding musculature were computed and analyzed from skull and jaw measurements in 5 medium –sized felid species (Cheetah, Puma, Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard, and Leopard). All measurements were made on various aspects of the skulls from each species using an image processing and analyzing software (ImageJ) and were subjected to statistical analysis. Results indicate that the Clouded Leopard has the strongest bite force which is exemplified by large jaw muscles with high mechanical advantage. The other two leopards (Snow Leopard and Leopard) display relatively high mechanical advantage and, like the clouded leopard, take relatively large prey. However, there is no consistent pattern in similarity of indices among the leopard species in this study. Pumas and cheetahs both have small heads and short snouts with a large zygomatic arch width. The functional significance of the combination of these features in these two species is not clear, but they are known to prey on smaller sized animals such as deer and gazelle, and often lose their kill to larger predators such as lions, hyenas and leopards.
