Cranial shape variation in domestication: A pilot study on the case of rabbits. Issue 8 (7th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Geiger, Madeleine; Sánchez‐Villagra, Marcelo R.; Sherratt, Emma
• Other Names: Sánchez‐Villagra Marcelo R. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of experimental zoology. Volume 338:Issue 8(2022)
• Page Start: 532
• Page End: 541
• Publication Date: 2022-08-07
• Subjects: allometry -- cranium -- modularity -- Oryctolagus cuniculus; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals; Molecular evolution -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Periodicals; Evolution, Molecular -- Periodicals; Developmental Biology -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Periodicals; 591
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23171
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5007

Abstract

Abstract: Domestication leads to phenotypic characteristics that have been described to be similar across species. However, this "domestication syndrome" has been subject to debate, related to a lack of evidence for certain characteristics in many species. Here we review diverse literature and provide new data on cranial shape changes due to domestication in the European rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) as a preliminary case study, thus contributing novel evidence to the debate. We quantified cranial shape of 30 wild and domestic rabbits using micro‐computed tomography scans and three‐dimensional geometric morphometrics. The goal was to test (1) if the domesticates exhibit shorter and broader snouts, smaller teeth, and smaller braincases than their wild counterparts; (2) to what extent allometric scaling is responsible for cranial shape variation; (3) if there is evidence for more variation in the neural crest‐derived parts of the cranium compared with those derived of the mesoderm, in accordance with the "neural crest hypothesis." Our own data are consistent with older literature records, suggesting that although there is evidence for some cranial characteristics of the "domestication syndrome" in rabbits, facial length is not reduced. In accordance with the "neural crest hypothesis, " we found more shape variation in neural crest versus mesoderm‐derived parts of the cranium. Within the domestic group, allometric scaling relationships of the snout, the braincase, and the teeth shed new light on ubiquitous patterns among related taxa. This study—albeit preliminary due to the limited sample size—adds to the growing evidence concerning nonuniform patterns associated with domestication. Abstract : Research highlights: ‐ Evidence for some, but not all cranial characteristics of the "domestication syndrome" in rabbits ‐ Evidence for the "neural crest hypothesis" in rabbits ‐ Results illustrate the non‐uniform pattern of morphological diversification in domestication