eprintid: 10170098
rev_number: 8
eprint_status: archive
userid: 699
dir: disk0/10/17/00/98
datestamp: 2023-06-13 14:32:25
lastmod: 2023-06-13 14:32:25
status_changed: 2023-06-13 14:32:25
type: working_paper
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 699
creators_name: Dutel, Hugo
creators_name: Sharp, Alana
creators_name: Jones, Marc
creators_name: Evans, Susan
creators_name: Fagan, Micheal
creators_name: Gröning, Flora
title: Comparative skull biomechanics in Varanus and Salvator ‘Tupinambis’
ispublished: pub
divisions: UCL
divisions: B02
divisions: C08
divisions: D09
divisions: F96
note: © 2017 Dutel et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of
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unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and
for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. For attribution, the
original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ Preprints) and either DOI or
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abstract: The lizard species Salvator ‘ Tupinambis ’ merianae and Varanus ornatus evolved independently in South America and Africa but share similar ecology and feeding behaviour, despite having notable differences in their skull structure. Tupinambis has a compact, relatively short and wide snout, whereas that of Varanus is more slender and narrow. In addition, a postorbital bar (POB) is present in Tupinambis but absent in Varanus , and the former lacks the mid-frontal suture that is present in the latter. Here, we explore the biomechanical significance of these differences using 3D computer-based mechanical simulations based on micro-computed tomography, detailed muscle dissections, and in vivo data. First, we simulated muscle activity and joint-reaction forces during biting using Multibody Dynamics Analysis. Then, the forces calculated from these models were used as an input for Finite Element Analysis, to investigate and compare the strains of the skull in these two species. The effects of the presence/absence of structures, such as the POB, were investigated by constructing artificial models which geometry was altered. Our results indicate that strains in the skull bones are lower in Tupinambis than in Varanus , in particular at the back of the skull. The presence of a POB clearly reduces the strains in the bones during posterior biting in Tupinambis , but not in Varanus . Our results hence highlight how the morphological differences between these two taxa affect the mechanical behaviour of their respective skulls during feeding.
date: 2017-08-22
date_type: published
publisher: PeerJ Preprints
official_url: https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.3176v1
oa_status: green
full_text_type: pub
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 1618057
doi: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.3176v1
lyricists_name: Evans, Susan
lyricists_name: Sharp, Alana
lyricists_name: Jones, Marc
lyricists_id: SEEVA33
lyricists_id: ACSHA71
lyricists_id: MEHJO63
actors_name: Evans, Susan
actors_id: SEEVA33
actors_role: owner
full_text_status: public
place_of_pub: London, UK
citation:        Dutel, Hugo;    Sharp, Alana;    Jones, Marc;    Evans, Susan;    Fagan, Micheal;    Gröning, Flora;      (2017)    Comparative skull biomechanics in Varanus and Salvator ‘Tupinambis’.                    PeerJ Preprints: London, UK.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10170098/1/Dutel%20et%20al.%202017%20Comparative_skull_biomechanics.pdf