Modular modification of the procoxa drives repeated evolution of digging in beetles

This dataset comprises morphological, biomechanical, developmental genetic, and phylogenetic information of the foreleg coxa (procoxa) from 17 beetle species. It includes measurements of foreleg (including the procoxa) force during locomotion and digging behaviors; quantitative assessments of procoxal and thoracic morphology, muscle architecture, and expression of the developmental gene sp9; as well as sequence data used to construct time-calibrated phylogenies. The dataset is intended to support studies on the functional and evolutionary significance of the beetle foreleg module and provides a foundation for comparative research in animal biomechanics and evolutionary developmental biology.