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Evolutionary Divergence and Convergence in Shape and Size Within African Antelope Proximal Phalanges

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Abstract

Morphological convergence amongst species inhabiting similar environments but having different evolutionary histories is a concept central to evolutionary biology. Cases of divergent evolution, where there is morphological divergence between closely related species exploiting different environments, are less well studied. Here we show divergent evolution in the morphology of the proximal phalanges of several closely related African antelope species inhabiting different environments. This morphological divergence was consistently observed in both a neutral morphospace and an externally ordinated morphospace. Divergence, but not convergence, was also observed when size and shape were considered independently. Finally, convergent evolution of the morphology of the proximal phalanges was observed, but only in the externally ordinated morphospace. Size shows less correlation with phylogeny than does shape. Therefore, we suggest that divergence in size will occur more readily when a species encounters new environmental conditions than divergence in shape. These findings are compatible with observations of rapid dwarfing on islands (Foster’s rule).

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Acknowledgments

We thank E. Westwig (AMNH), L. Gordon (NMNH), and the NHML for their curatorial assistance; JL and LCB acknowledge the support of The Leverhulme Trust (FC00754C); TP acknowledges support from the Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York Research Award Program; FH acknowledges the CSUN Office of Research and Sponsored Projects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK

    Julien Louys & Laura C. Bishop

  2. School of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia

    Julien Louys

  3. Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA

    Shaena Montanari

  4. Department of Anthropology, Queens College, CUNY and NYCEP, Flushing, NY, USA

    Thomas Plummer

  5. Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA, USA

    Fritz Hertel

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  1. Julien Louys
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Correspondence to Julien Louys.

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Louys, J., Montanari, S., Plummer, T. et al. Evolutionary Divergence and Convergence in Shape and Size Within African Antelope Proximal Phalanges. J Mammal Evol 20, 239–248 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-012-9211-4

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