A fundamental question in biology is whether phenotypes can be predicted by ecological or
genomic rules. At least five cases of convergent evolution of the crab‐like body plan (with a …

The relationship between skull morphology and diet is a prime example of adaptive
evolution. In mammals, the skull consists of the cranium and the mandible. Although the …

The mammalian order Carnivora is characterized by a broad taxonomic and ecological
diversity. By using a large sample of extant species, we tested the impact of ecological …

The diversity of vertebrate skeletons is often attributed to adaptations to distinct ecological
factors such as diet, locomotion, and sensory environment. Although the adaptive evolution …

Beaks are among the few hard parts of coleoid cephalopods and are informative for species
identification. Although mandible shape has been shown to be adaptive in many vertebrate …

Constraint is a fundamental concept in evolutionary theory. Morphology and ecology both
are limited by functional, historical and developmental factors to a subset of the theoretical …

Macroevolution is integral to understanding the patterns of the diversification of life. As the
life sciences increasingly use big data approaches, large multivariate datasets are required …

Feeding is a complex process that involves an integrated response of multiple functional
systems. Animals evolve phenotypic integration of complex morphological traits to covary …

Vertebrate limb morphology often reflects the environment due to variation in locomotor
requirements. However, proximal and distal limb segments may evolve differently from one …

Studies of differences in modularity and integration among the related species can provide
important information on their evolution. We argue that evolutionary changes in the …