TY - JOUR AU - Samuel, O.M. AU - Parés-Casanova, P.M AU - Olopade, J.O PY - 2016/10/12 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Comparative mandible geometric morphometrics of two African rodents,Thryonomys swinderianus and Cricetomys gambianus (Rodentia: Thryonomyidae and Nesomyidae) JF - UNED Research Journal JA - URJ VL - 8 IS - 2 SE - Articles DO - 10.22458/urj.v8i2.1568 UR - https://revistas.uned.ac.cr/index.php/cuadernos/article/view/1568 SP - 249-254 AB - <p class="x06-1-Abstract-y-Key-words"> The African giant pouched rat (<span class="char-style-override-5">Cricetomys gambianus</span>) and greater cane rat or African cane rat (<span class="char-style-override-5">Thryonomys swinderianus</span>) both have similar body conformation and share similar ecological biome. This study aimed to compare mandibular parameters in adults of both species. For this purpose, 9 lateral mandibular landmarks in male <span class="char-style-override-5">T. swinderianus</span> (n=11) and <span class="char-style-override-5">C. gambianus </span>(n=12) were analyzed by geometric morphometrics. <span class="char-style-override-5">T. swinderianus</span> presented a coronoid process equivalent to condyle and a more caudally displaced angular process, whereas cheek teeth was less prominent and shorter in<span class="char-style-override-6"> </span><span class="char-style-override-5">C. gambianus. </span>This study may be useful in solving phylogenetic ambiguities, wildlife surveillance and age-population control, ration formulation in captive species, and eco-migration. This is the first time to our knowledge that geometric morphometric comparison of mandibles in these African rodents has enabled an inference of ecological preferences in diet based on mandible shape.</p><p class="x06-1-Abstract-y-Key-words"> </p> ER -