Data from: Forelimb indicators of prey-size preference in the Felidae

The forelimbs, along with the crania, are an essential part of the prey-killing apparatus in cats. Linear morphometrics of the forelimbs were used to determine the morphological differences between felids that specialize on large prey, small prey, or mixed prey. We also compared the scaling of felid forelimbs to those of canids to test whether prey capture strategies affect forelimb scaling. Results suggest that large prey specialists have relatively robust forelimbs when compared with smaller prey specialists. This includes relatively more robust humeri and radii, relatively larger distal ends of the humerus, and relatively larger articular areas of the humerus and radius. Large prey specialists also had relatively longer olecranon processes of the ulna and wider proximal paws. These characters are all important for subduing large prey while the cat positions itself for the killing bite. Small prey specialists have relatively longer distal limb elements for swift prey capture, and mixed prey specialists had intermediate values with relatively more robust metacarpals. Arboreal felids also had more robust limbs. They had relatively longer proximal phalanges for better grip while climbing, and a relatively short brachial index (radius to humerus ratio). Additionally, we found that felids and canids differ in forelimb scaling, which emphasizes the dual use of forelimbs for locomotion and prey capture in felids. This morphometric technique worked well to separate prey-size preference in felids, but did not work as well to separate locomotor groups, as scansorial and terrestrial felids were not clearly distinguished.猫科动物的前肢与颅骨均为其捕杀猎物的核心结构组成部分。本研究采用前肢线性形态测量学（Linear morphometrics）方法，分析特化捕食大型猎物、小型猎物或混合猎物的猫科动物（felids）之间的形态差异。同时，本研究对比了猫科动物与犬科动物（canids）的前肢异速生长模式，以验证捕食策略是否会影响前肢的异速生长特征。 研究结果显示，相较于特化捕食小型猎物的猫科动物，特化捕食大型猎物的类群前肢相对更为粗壮，具体表现为肱骨（humerus）与桡骨（radius）更为粗壮、肱骨远端尺寸更大，以及肱骨与桡骨的关节面面积更大。此外，大型猎物特化类群的尺骨（ulna）鹰嘴突（olecranon processes）相对更长，近端掌部也更宽。上述特征均有助于猫科动物在调整体位发动致命咬击时制服大型猎物。 特化捕食小型猎物的类群则拥有相对更长的肢体远端骨骼，以实现快速捕获猎物；而混合猎物特化类群的各项参数处于中间水平，掌骨（metacarpals）相对更为粗壮。树栖猫科动物的前肢同样更为粗壮，其近端指骨（proximal phalanges）相对更长以提升攀爬时的抓握能力，同时肱指数（brachial index，即桡骨与肱骨的比值）相对更低。 此外，本研究发现猫科动物与犬科动物的前肢异速生长模式存在显著差异，这进一步印证了猫科动物前肢兼具运动与捕食双重功能的特性。该形态测量方法可有效区分猫科动物的猎物体型偏好，但在区分运动生态类群时效果欠佳，因为攀援型（scansorial）与陆栖型（terrestrial）猫科动物并未被清晰区分开来。