Heads up–Four Giraffa species have distinct cranial morphology
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60460709%3A41340%2F24%3A101706" target="_blank" >RIV/60460709:41340/24:101706 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0315043" target="_blank" >https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0315043</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315043" target="_blank" >10.1371/journal.pone.0315043</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Heads up–Four Giraffa species have distinct cranial morphology
Original language description
Giraffe (Giraffa spp.) are among the most unique extant mammals in terms of anatomy, phylogeny, and ecology. However, aspects of their evolution, ontogeny, and taxonomy are unresolved, retaining lingering questions that are pivotal for their conservation. We assembled the largest known dataset of Giraffa skulls (n = 515) to investigate patterns of cranial variability using 3D geometric morphometrics. The results show distinct sexual dimorphism and divergent ontogenetic trajectories of skull shape for the north clade (G. camelopardalis antiquorum, G. c. camelopardalis, G. c. peralta, and G. reticulata) and the south clade (G. giraffa angolensis, G. g. giraffa, G. tippelskirchi tippelskirchi, and G. t. thornicrofti) which was further supported statistically. Discriminant functions found statistically significant cranial shape differences between all four Giraffa species, and in some cases also between subspecies of the same species. Our 3D morphometric analysis shows that the four genetically distinct Giraffa spp. also have distinct cranial morphologies, largely addressable to features of display (ossicones). Our results highlight the importance of focusing future giraffe conservation efforts on each taxon to maintain their unique characteristics and biodiversity in the wild.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10613 - Zoology
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach
Others
Publication year
2024
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
PLoS One
ISSN
1932-6203
e-ISSN
1932-6203
Volume of the periodical
19
Issue of the periodical within the volume
12
Country of publishing house
US - UNITED STATES
Number of pages
16
Pages from-to
1-16
UT code for WoS article
001397531300065
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85213342541