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<p><i>Cerradomys</i>, a genus of rodents with eight described species, primarily inhabits open vegetation areas in South America. <i>Cerradomys goytaca</i>, the only species endemic to coastal sandy plains, exhibits scansorial abilities and is frequently captured in trees. Typically, scansorial rodents display adaptations in the appendicular skeleton that facilitate climbing. We hypothesized that <i>C. goytaca</i> has developed locomotor specializations for a scansorial habit, differentiating it from other closely related species. To test this, we characterized scapular morphological variation in seven <i>Cerradomys</i> species from eastern Brazil using 2D geometric morphometrics on 211 adult specimens. A low but significant allometric effect was observed, explaining up to 3.2% of shape variation. Principal Component Analysis and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) revealed interspecific differences in scapular shape, with <i>C. goytaca</i> exhibiting a relatively wider and shorter scapular blade. LDA indicated a tendency for species to occupy distinct regions of morphospace, despite partial overlap and the absence of complete morphological segregation. Among the species analyzed, <i>C. goytaca</i> was consistently distinct from its closest relative, <i>C. subflavus</i>. Its scapular morphology resembles that of other climbing mammals, suggesting recent morphological divergence likely driven by ecological pressures in the coastal sandy plains. These findings support our hypothesis and suggest that <i>Cerradomys</i> species exhibit anatomical variation that reflects adaptation to diverse habitats and locomotor behaviors.</p>

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Scapular morphological variation in Cerradomys (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae): exploring locomotor traces in muroid rodents

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月23日

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  • Maria Eduarda Araujo de Oliveira,
  • Thomas Furtado da Silva Netto,
  • William Corrêa Tavares

摘要

Cerradomys, a genus of rodents with eight described species, primarily inhabits open vegetation areas in South America. Cerradomys goytaca, the only species endemic to coastal sandy plains, exhibits scansorial abilities and is frequently captured in trees. Typically, scansorial rodents display adaptations in the appendicular skeleton that facilitate climbing. We hypothesized that C. goytaca has developed locomotor specializations for a scansorial habit, differentiating it from other closely related species. To test this, we characterized scapular morphological variation in seven Cerradomys species from eastern Brazil using 2D geometric morphometrics on 211 adult specimens. A low but significant allometric effect was observed, explaining up to 3.2% of shape variation. Principal Component Analysis and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) revealed interspecific differences in scapular shape, with C. goytaca exhibiting a relatively wider and shorter scapular blade. LDA indicated a tendency for species to occupy distinct regions of morphospace, despite partial overlap and the absence of complete morphological segregation. Among the species analyzed, C. goytaca was consistently distinct from its closest relative, C. subflavus. Its scapular morphology resembles that of other climbing mammals, suggesting recent morphological divergence likely driven by ecological pressures in the coastal sandy plains. These findings support our hypothesis and suggest that Cerradomys species exhibit anatomical variation that reflects adaptation to diverse habitats and locomotor behaviors.