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Morphological Variation of the Forelimb and Claw in Neotropical Sigmodontine Rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

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Abstract

The limbs of mammals exhibit a variety of morphologies that reflect the diversity of their habitats and their functional needs, including subtle structural differences in their distal limb integumentary appendages (hooks, claws, adhesive pads). Little is known about structure and function of claws of sigmodontine rodents. Here, we analyze claw shape and forelimb skeleton morphology of 25 species of sigmodontine rodents with different locomotory types (ambulatory, fossorial, natatorial, quadrupedal saltatorial, and scansorial), taking into account their phylogenetic affinities. Qualitative differences in claw shape were examined using digital photographs, and quantitative measurements were made for length, height, and curvature of the claws of all digits, and dimensions of other forelimb skeletal elements. Our results show that both phylogeny and ecological categories explain substantial components of the morphological variation in sigmodontine rodents. Qualitative analysis reveals that non-specialized forms (ambulatory, quadrupedal saltatorial, and scansorial) tend to have high and strongly curved claws, whereas highly specialized forms (fossorial and natatorial) tend to have elongate and smoothly curved claws. However, the quantitative analysis differentiated the fossorial and scansorial by variables related to claw, and natatorial by variables related to bones of the forelimb. No variables that could differentiate ambulatory or quadrupedal saltatorial forms were found, demonstrating that these forms show a generalized morphological pattern. This study indicates that both historical and ecological factors contribute to the evolution of claw length in these groups.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the comments of J. Brasca and V. Abdala on early versions of the manuscript. We thank to Diego Verzi, David Flores, and Ulyses Pardiñas for allowing access to mammal collections. Agustina Novillo, Agustina Ojeda, Mariano Sánchez, Pablo Jayat, and Pablo Teta are acknowledged for making the study of some additional specimens possible. Photographs were graciously provided by Antoine Baglan, Mariano Sánchez, Pablo Ortiz and Pablo Teta. This work was supported by grants BID-PICT 0616 and PIP 0284 (CONICET).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UEL- CONICET, Instituto de Herpetología- Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251, San Miguel de Tucumán, 4000, Argentina

    M. J. Tulli

  2. Instituto de Biología Subtropical (IBS)–nodo Posadas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Misiones (UNaM), Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva, Félix de Azara 1552, N3300LQF, Posadas, Argentina

    L. V. Carrizo

  3. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Kimberly, Oregon

    J. X. Samuels

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Tulli, M.J., Carrizo, L.V. & Samuels, J.X. Morphological Variation of the Forelimb and Claw in Neotropical Sigmodontine Rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae). J Mammal Evol 23, 81–91 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-015-9300-2

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