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Development and growth in skulls of three Otariidae species: a comparative morphometric study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 August 2017

Daniela Sanfelice*
Affiliation:
Animal Biology Graduate Program, IB/UFRGS, Building 43435, CEP 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Sul- Campus Restinga, Rua Alberto Hoffman, 285 Bairro Restinga CEP: 91791-508 Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil
Daniza Molina-Schiller
Affiliation:
Ecology Graduate Program, IB/UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Bloc IV, Cx. Postal 15007, CEP: 91540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
Thales R. O. De Freitas
Affiliation:
Animal Biology Graduate Program, IB/UFRGS, Building 43435, CEP 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Ecology Graduate Program, IB/UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Bloc IV, Cx. Postal 15007, CEP: 91540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Genetics Department, IB/UFRGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Cx. Postal 15053, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: D. Sanfelice, Instituto Federal de Educacão,Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Sul- Campus Restinga, Rua Alberto Hoffman, 285 Bairro Restinga CEP: 91791-508 Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil email: daniela.sanfelice@gmail.com

Abstract

We examined the skulls of Arctocephalus australis, Callorhinus ursinus and Otaria byronia with the objectives of (1) estimating the development and growth rates and comparing these parameters among the species; (2) describing the development for each linear measure, for each species and sex; (3) determining which variables are best correlated with age; (4) determining age of physical maturity. We employed traditional and geometric morphometric techniques to study the skulls. In A. australis and C. ursinus, skulls of females mature at about 6 years of age, and those of males at about 8 years. Otaria byronia matures later, at about 9 years. Using geometric morphometric data sets, the rate and constant of growth in A. australis did not differ between the sexes. Callorhinus ursinus and O. byronia showed rates significantly different between sexes concerning growth (and in the constant as well), but only O. byronia differed between sexes in both developmental model parameters (rates and constant). Comparisons between the growth and developmental models showed significant differences in slope and constant. In both treatments employed, a relationship between size and shape dimorphism could be inferred for the skulls of all three species. We conclude that rates or timing of growth and development evolves within a conserved spatiotemporal organization of morphogenesis.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2017 

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Footnotes

Current address: casilla 215, Quilpué, Valparaiso, 2430000, Chile.

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