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TITANOTHERE ALLOMETRY, HETEROCHRONY, AND BIOMECHANICS: REVISING AN EVOLUTIONARY CLASSIC

Michael L. McKinney, Robert M. Schoch

Open publisher page 19 citations

Abstract

A reanalysis of Osborn's titanothere data indicates that extrapolative growth of a constant allometric relationship alone ("hypermorphosis") does not account for the trend toward body and horn size increase. Empirically, we also observe possible positive changes in the y-intercept ("predisplacement" or early onset of development), and possibly, changes in the slope ("acceleration/neoteny" or changes in growth rate) between the Oligocene and Eocene groups. Theoretically, these may be responses to more massive body shapes, perforce accompanying size increase, which increase the amount of force to which the horns were subjected.

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What this paper is about

A reanalysis of Osborn's titanothere data indicates that extrapolative growth of a constant allometric relationship alone ("hypermorphosis") does not account for the trend toward body and horn size increase. Empirically, we also observe possible positive changes in the y-intercept ("predisplacement" or early onset of development), and possibly, changes in the slope ("acceleration/neoteny" or changes in growth rate) between the Oligocene and Eocene groups. Theoretically, these may be responses to more massive body shapes, perforce accompanying size increase, which increase the amount of force to which the horns were subjected.

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OpenAlex reports 19 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

A reanalysis of Osborn's titanothere data indicates that extrapolative growth of a constant allometric relationship alone ("hypermorphosis") does not account for the trend toward body and horn size increase. Empirically, we also observe possible positive changes in the y-intercept ("predisplacement" or early onset of development), and possibly, changes in the slope ("acceleration/neoteny" or changes in growth rate) between the Oligocene and Eocene groups. Theoretically, these may be responses to more massive body shapes, perforce accompanying size increase, which increase the amount of force to which the horns were subjected.

Key concepts: Heterochrony, Neoteny, Allometry, Biology, Evolutionary biology, Acceleration, Biological evolution, French horn

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