Cranial morphological variation of Ctenomys lami (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in a restricted geographical distribution.

The relationship between chromosomal and morphological variation in mammals is poorly understood. We analyzed the cranial size and shape variation in Ctenomys lami concerning to the geographic variation in their chromosome numbers. This subterranean rodent occurs in a narrow range of sand-dunes in the Coastal Plain of southern Brazil.

Shifts in cranial integration associated with ecological specialization in pinnipeds (Mammalia, Carnivora).

Patterns of trait integration reflect the underlying genetic and developmental architecture of morphology and significantly influence the direction of evolution. Nevertheless, the relationship between integration and disparity is complex and unlikely to be uniform across large phylogenetic and ecological scales. To date, there are little data comparing patterns of integration across major ecological transitions, limiting understanding of the processes driving changes in trait integration and their consequences.