Leveraging functional morphology to increase accuracy of body mass estimation: A study using canids

Body mass is an important facet of reconstructing the paleobiology of fossil species, and has, historically, been estimated from individual skeletal measurements. This paper demonstrates the potential advantages of estimating body mass using 3D geometric morphometrics on limb bones, which allows size to be explicitly contextualized within the functional morphology of the animal. Geometric morphometrics of the humerus and femur is used to estimate body mass in domestic dogs and wild canids, and the resulting estimates are compared to estimates made using limb bone dimensions and centroid size. In both groups, 3D methods produced more accurate estimates of body mass than linear dimensions. Additionally, centroid size was a poor predictor of body mass and should not be preferred over linear measurements. The use of 3D methods also reveals specific aspects of shape that are associated with different sizes. In general, relatively heavier individuals were associated with more robust bones and..., , , # Leveraging functional morphology to increase accuracy of body mass estimation: A study using canids [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tx95x6b78](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tx95x6b78) ## Description of the data and file structure This data was collected in order to compare the precision of body mass estimation methods, with a focus on testing how 3D geometric morphometric methods compare to element dimensions. ### Files and variables #### File: Supplemental\_data.xlsx **Description:**Â Raw humeri and femur measurements. Data is split into 3 groups: domestic dogs, wild canids, and fossil canids. Domestic dogs were measured digitally from CT scans in 3D Slicer, wild and fossil canids were measured from physical specimens using calipers. All measurements are in mm. ##### Variables * HGL - humerus greatest length * HDB - humerus distal breadth * HPD - humerus proximal depth * FGL - femur greatest length * FHbr - femur head breadth * FPB - femur proximal breadth * N/A - Not Available...体重是重建化石物种古生物学特征的重要维度，长期以来学界均通过单块骨骼的测量数据对其进行估算。本文论证了利用四肢骨骼的三维几何形态测量学（3D geometric morphometrics）估算体重的潜在优势，该方法可将体型大小明确置于动物功能形态学的框架下进行分析。本研究以家犬与野生犬科动物为研究对象，通过肱骨与股骨的几何形态测量学数据估算其体重，并将该估算结果与基于四肢骨骼线性尺寸及形心大小（centroid size）得到的估算结果进行对比。在两组研究对象中，三维几何形态测量法所得体重估算结果的精度均优于线性尺寸法。此外，形心大小对体重的预测效果较差，不应优先于线性测量方法使用。三维形态测量法还可揭示与不同体型相关的特定骨骼形态特征。总体而言，体重相对更大的个体往往对应更为粗壮的骨骼…… # 依托功能形态学提升体重估算精度：一项以犬科动物为对象的研究 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tx95x6b78](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tx95x6b78) ## 数据集与文件结构说明 本数据集的采集目的为对比不同体重估算方法的精度，重点验证三维几何形态测量法与骨骼元素线性尺寸法的估算效果差异。 ### 文件与变量 #### 文件：Supplemental_data.xlsx **描述：** 肱骨与股骨的原始测量数据。数据集分为三组：家犬、野生犬科动物与化石犬科动物。家犬数据通过3D Slicer对CT扫描图像进行数字化测量获取，野生及化石犬科动物数据则通过游标卡尺对实体标本测量得到。所有测量单位均为毫米（mm）。 ##### 变量说明 * HGL：肱骨最大长度（humerus greatest length） * HDB：肱骨远端宽度（humerus distal breadth） * HPD：肱骨近端深度（humerus proximal depth） * FGL：股骨最大长度（femur greatest length） * FHbr：股骨头宽度（femur head breadth） * FPB：股骨近端宽度（femur proximal breadth） * N/A：无有效数据（Not Available）