Relationships between abiotic variables and geographic variation in skulls of pumas ( Puma concolor: Mammalia, Felidae) in North and South America

Relationships between patterns of geographic variation in cranial morphology and selected abiotic variables were studied in the puma ( Puma concolorLinnaeus). Our dataset consisted of 11 cranial, 6 dental, and 2 mandibular measurements of 1700 adults, which were separated by gender and age class and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Zoological journal of the Linnean Society 1996, Vol.117 (3), p.259-282
Main Authors: GAY, SAMANTHA W., BEST, TROY L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bergmann's rule
carnivore
ecology
morphology
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Summary:Relationships between patterns of geographic variation in cranial morphology and selected abiotic variables were studied in the puma ( Puma concolorLinnaeus). Our dataset consisted of 11 cranial, 6 dental, and 2 mandibular measurements of 1700 adults, which were separated by gender and age class and analysed by univariate and multivariate statistical procedures. Variation in size was correlated with precipitation, but size was more highly correlated with latitude and temperature. The pattern of geographic variation in size of P. concoloris consistent with Bergmann's rule; populations with larger pumas occur more distant from the equator than populations with smaller pumas. A combination of climatic and biotic factors contribute to patterns of geographic variation in size of P. concolorin North and South America.
ISSN:0024-4082
1096-3642
DOI:10.1006/zjls.1996.0039