2D Geometric Morphometric Dataset of Cervid Lower Third Molar from Central and South America, Including Archaeological Specimens from the Pearl Island Archipelago (Panama)

This study investigates the past and present diversity of cervid populations in the Pearl Island Archipelago, Panama, through a two-dimensional geometric morphometric (2D-GMM) analysis of the lower third molar. The dataset includes both archaeological remains from the Playa Don Bernardo (PdB) site on Pedro González Island, dating back 6,200 years, and extant species of Neotropical deer that today inhabit Panama, such as Odocoileus virginianus, Mazama temama, and Mazama nemorivaga. These cervid populations are compared to determine the phylogenetic position of the dwarf brocket deer from PdB, which likely arrived on the island before human settlement at the end of the Pleistocene. The study incorporates TPS files containing digitized molar specimens from museum collections across the world, as well as a metafile detailing the provenance and characteristics of each specimen. A total of 104 teeth from extant species and 23 archaeological specimens from PdB and San José Island were analyzed. The research aims to clarify the taxonomic status of the PdB cervids and explore how island environments influenced cervid evolution and adaptation. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of species diversity, biogeography, and evolutionary history in the Neotropics, with implications for conservation efforts, particularly for isolated island populations like those of San José Island in the Pearl Island Archipelago.