Long-fuse evolution of carnivoran skeletal phenomes through the Cenozoic

Climatic change is hypothesized to promote phenotypic diversification. While neontological analyses are often used to test this hypothesis, extant data only capture time-averaged signals of surviving lineages. More nuanced tests require paired and longitudinal climatic and organismal data. Here, we developed the most comprehensive phenomic dataset of pan-carnivorans to test hypotheses that Cenozoic climatic change influenced the evolution of the cranial, appendicular, and axial skeleton. We found support that a hierarchical progression of ecological diversification across the Cenozoic significantly influenced the establishment of modern carnivorans. Specifically, extinctions during the Eocene-Oligocene Transition released crown carnivorans from a constrained adaptive zone to interfamilial skeletal diversification. Intrafamilial skeletal diversification did not occur for another 20 million years until after the Mid-Miocene Climate Transition. Our work demonstrates the essential role of m..., , # Data from: Long-fuse evolution of carnivoran skeletal phenomes through the Cenozoic

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.z8w9ghxrz](10.5061/dryad.z8w9ghxrz)

## Description of the data and file structure

tree_prune_final_2502015.tre contains the pruned phylogeny

extant_data_250205.csv and extinct_data_250215.csv contain raw trait data. All traits measured in mm. Empty cells indicate that trait could not be measured.

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Clade = clade association for each specimen. Either Carnivora, Carnivoramorpha, or Pan-carnivora (Hyaenodonta or Oxyaenodonta)

Family = the family in which the specimen is a part of

Species = specimen's species name

Status = whether the specimen is extinct or extant

Catalog = museum catalog number for each specimen

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Geomean = geometric mean of all traits

 

Cranial traits

CBL = condylobasal length

POC = postorbital constriction breadth

ZB = zygomatic breadth

MB = mastoid breadth

AFH = anterior facial height

PFH = posterior facial height

CVH = cranial...,