Data from: Craniodental indicators of prey size preference in the Felidae

In the present study, we used linear morphometrics of the crania, mandible and dentition to explore the association between craniodental shape and prey size among 35 species of living felids. To accomplish this, felids were divided into three prey-size groups: (1) large prey specialists; (2) small prey specialists; and (3) mixed prey feeders. From these linear measurements, large prey specialist felids can be distinguished from small and mixed prey feeders by their relatively robust canines and incisors and relatively wide muzzles. These cranial characters are advantageous when dispatching large prey, due to the stranglehold that cats employ during this activity. Robust canines resist the bending and torsional forces applied by struggling prey and a wider muzzle helps to stabilize grip and distribute bite forces more evenly during the killing bite. Small prey specialists had smaller canines, narrower muzzles and slightly longer jaws for a speed advantage when catching small, quick prey. Mixed prey feeders were intermediate between large and small prey specialists, indicating they are adapted to killing both sizes of prey. Given the success of this ecomorphological analysis of living felids that specialize on different prey sizes, we look forward to applying this same approach to extinct species.本研究采用颅骨、下颌骨及牙列的线性形态测量法，探究35种现生猫科动物（Felidae）的颅齿形态与猎物体型之间的关联。为完成该研究，我们将现生猫科动物划分为三类猎物体型特化类群：(1) 大型猎物特化类群；(2) 小型猎物特化类群；(3) 广谱猎物摄食类群。基于上述线性测量数据，大型猎物特化类群可通过其相对粗壮的犬齿、门齿与较宽的吻部，与小型及广谱摄食类群相区分。这类颅骨特征在制服大型猎物时具有优势——猫科动物在该过程中会使用锁喉动作，粗壮的犬齿可抵御猎物挣扎时产生的弯曲与扭转力，而较宽的吻部则有助于在致命咬合时稳定咬合姿态，并更均匀地分配咬合力。小型猎物特化类群则拥有更短小的犬齿、更窄的吻部与稍长的颌骨，以在捕捉小型敏捷猎物时获得速度优势。广谱猎物摄食类群的性状介于大型与小型猎物特化类群之间，表明其适配猎杀两种体型的猎物。鉴于本次针对不同猎物体型特化现生猫科动物的生态形态分析取得成功，我们期待将该方法应用于已灭绝猫科物种的研究中。