Postcranial estimators of body mass in pecorans with emphasis on Capromeryx (Mammalia:Artiodactyla)

Abstract

Mammalian body mass is correlated to a variety of ecological and physiological parameters. Reconstruction of the masses of extinct species is of interest because of the information obtained that can elucidate past ecologies. The most common method of mass estimation has generally been from tooth measurements, as teeth are most commonly preserved in the fossil record. Postcranial estimators have been less frequently used, and have been primarily confined to measures of width and length. Some notable exceptions have used a geometric shape to model the surface area and volume of the femoral head. In an attempt to expand on this concept, a number of postcranial articulations were modeled on different geometric shapes in order to evaluate the effectiveness of such models in predicting body mass of extant pecoran artiodactyls. Predictive least squares regression equations were developed from the modem sample and applied to the extinct antilocaprid Capromeryx. In addition to body mass estimation the phylogeny of Capromeryx was evaluated, resulting in species synonymies that decreased the number of species within the genus from five to three.