Event Title
What Big Claws You Have: Relationship Between Claw Morphology and Ecology in the Big Cats (Felidae)
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Nursing, Health Professions
Mentor Information
Christopher Noto, notoc@gvsu.edu
Department
Biomedical Sciences
Location
Kirkhof Center KC28
Start Date
13-4-2011 12:00 PM
End Date
13-4-2011 1:00 PM
Keywords
Life Science
Abstract
Each big cat species has a unique way of catching, killing and eating prey based on its behavior and anatomy, particularly the mechanism of the forelimb in conjunction with the claws. The claw's morphology and range of motion is interrelated to the forelimb anatomy of the Felidae. Through the use of geometric morphometric analysis, differences in claw shape can be quantified and combined with ecological information to determine whether a relationship exists between claw shape and ecological parameters. Skeletal collections from the Field Museum in Chicago, IL were used to examine 15 species. Photographs were taken in lateral view and imported into the tpsDig and MorphoJ programs to place landmarks and run the analysis. Claws from each species were compared individually as well as grouped to examine variation within genera, creating a basis for determining ecological traits and killing style of extinct carnivore species.
What Big Claws You Have: Relationship Between Claw Morphology and Ecology in the Big Cats (Felidae)
Kirkhof Center KC28
Each big cat species has a unique way of catching, killing and eating prey based on its behavior and anatomy, particularly the mechanism of the forelimb in conjunction with the claws. The claw's morphology and range of motion is interrelated to the forelimb anatomy of the Felidae. Through the use of geometric morphometric analysis, differences in claw shape can be quantified and combined with ecological information to determine whether a relationship exists between claw shape and ecological parameters. Skeletal collections from the Field Museum in Chicago, IL were used to examine 15 species. Photographs were taken in lateral view and imported into the tpsDig and MorphoJ programs to place landmarks and run the analysis. Claws from each species were compared individually as well as grouped to examine variation within genera, creating a basis for determining ecological traits and killing style of extinct carnivore species.