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Application of Geometric Morphometrics to Understand Vertebrate and Invertebrate Morphological...
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Application of Geometric Morphometrics to Understand Vertebrate and Invertebrate Morphological Diversity

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 6562

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hugo A. Benítez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto One Health, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
Interests: geometric morphometrics; insects; adaptations; pest ecology; biological invasions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Geometric morphometrics is a powerful tool that enables the measurement of variations in morphology by considering underlying factors. It offers greater sensitivity compared to traditional morphometrics, allowing for the detection of even minor changes in morphological variation. Consequently, it has become a useful methodology for addressing questions related to morphological diversification in comparative biology. Initially, it primarily served as a tool for addressing taxonomic questions and distinguishing between individuals, populations, or species. However, in recent years, its applications have significantly diversified, making it an exceptionally accurate tool for studying morphological variation in ecological and evolutionary contexts.

For this reason, the following Special Issue will cover articles which cover questions to which geometric morphometrics can be applied to better understand the morphological adaptation in diverse taxa of invertebrate and vertebrate species.

Dr. Hugo A. Benítez
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • morphological variation
  • geometric morphometrics
  • morphometrics
  • disparity
  • allometry

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1105 KB  
Article
Patellar Shape Variation in Cats and Dogs: Implications for Orthopedic Surgical Planning
by Ebru Eravci Yalin, Yusuf Altundağ, Kemal Altunatmaz, Buket Çakar, Esra Acar, Edyta Pasicka, Ermiş Özkan, Ozan Gündemir and Mihaela-Claudia Spataru
Animals 2025, 15(11), 1608; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15111608 - 30 May 2025
Viewed by 701
Abstract
The patella plays a vital role in stifle joint function by contributing to limb extension and joint stabilization. While its clinical significance in small animal orthopedic surgery is well established, detailed comparative data on patellar morphology in domestic cats and dogs remain limited. [...] Read more.
The patella plays a vital role in stifle joint function by contributing to limb extension and joint stabilization. While its clinical significance in small animal orthopedic surgery is well established, detailed comparative data on patellar morphology in domestic cats and dogs remain limited. This study aimed to investigate interspecific and intraspecific variation in patellar shape and size using three-dimensional geometric morphometric techniques. Computed tomography images of 18 cats and 55 dogs were used to construct 3D models, and a total of 14 anatomical landmarks were manually placed on each patella. Generalized Procrustes Analysis was applied, followed by principal component analysis to explore patterns of shape variation. The results revealed a significant difference in shape between cats and dogs, with dogs exhibiting broader variation and larger centroid sizes. Regression analysis indicated that 12.2% of the observed shape variation could be attributed to centroid size, reflecting the influence of patellar size. This strong link suggests that size has a significant influence on how the patella’s shape varies, especially in dogs. These findings highlight the importance of individual variation in patellar morphology, particularly in dogs. A single standardized implant or surgical technique may not be appropriate for all cases. Integrating shape and size evaluations into preoperative imaging can help improve implant fit, joint stability, and overall surgical success. In the absence of breed-specific data, individualized planning remains the most reliable approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Geometric Morphometrics to Understand Vertebrate and Invertebrate Morphological Diversity)
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13 pages, 2654 KB  
Article
Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Sexual Dimorphism in the Bill of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
by Ebuderda Günay, Tomasz Szara, Buket Çakar, Emine İrem Deveci, Ali Serhan Coşkun, Gökhan Gün, Funda Yiğit, Ozan Gündemir, Sokol Duro and Mihaela Claudia Spataru
Animals 2025, 15(9), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15091312 - 1 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 717
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in bill morphology influences foraging strategies and bird competitive interactions. This study uses geometric morphometric analyses to examine sex-based differences in the bill shape and size of Ciconia ciconia, a large wading bird. Standardized dorsal and lateral photographs of 45 [...] Read more.
Sexual dimorphism in bill morphology influences foraging strategies and bird competitive interactions. This study uses geometric morphometric analyses to examine sex-based differences in the bill shape and size of Ciconia ciconia, a large wading bird. Standardized dorsal and lateral photographs of 45 white storks (24 females and 21 males) were analyzed. The mean centroid size (CS) confirmed that males have significantly larger bills than females, yet principal component analysis revealed no reliable shape-based sex differentiation. Allometric analyses indicated that larger individuals exhibit more pronounced shape variations, likely tied to functional adaptations, though these were insufficient for sex determination. While bill size correlates with sex, shape variation does not serve as a reliable criterion for sexing C. ciconia. This study contributes to the understanding of sexual dimorphism in Ciconia ciconia by quantifying bill size differences using geometric morphometrics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Geometric Morphometrics to Understand Vertebrate and Invertebrate Morphological Diversity)
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18 pages, 9016 KB  
Article
Shape Evolution in Two Acts: Morphological Diversity of Larval and Adult Neoaustraranan Frogs
by Diego Almeida-Silva and Florencia Vera Candioti
Animals 2024, 14(10), 1406; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14101406 - 8 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1860
Abstract
Phenotypic traits can evolve independently at different stages of ontogeny, optimizing adaptation to distinct ecological contexts and increasing morphological diversity in species with complex life cycles. Given the relative independence resulting from the profound changes induced by metamorphosis, niche occupation and resource utilization [...] Read more.
Phenotypic traits can evolve independently at different stages of ontogeny, optimizing adaptation to distinct ecological contexts and increasing morphological diversity in species with complex life cycles. Given the relative independence resulting from the profound changes induced by metamorphosis, niche occupation and resource utilization in tadpoles may prompt evolutionary responses that do not necessarily affect the adults. Consequently, diversity patterns observed in the larval shape may not necessarily correspond to those found in the adult shape for the same species, a premise that can be tested through the Adaptive Decoupling Hypothesis (ADH). Herein, we investigate the ADH for larval and adult shape differentiation in Neoaustrarana frogs. Neoaustrarana frogs, particularly within the Cycloramphidae family, exhibit remarkable diversity in tadpole morphology, making them an ideal model for studying adaptive decoupling. By analyzing 83 representative species across four families (Alsodidae, Batrachylidae, Cycloramphidae, and Hylodidae), we generate a morphological dataset for both larval and adult forms. We found a low correlation between larval and adult shapes, species with a highly distinct larval shape having relatively similar shape when adults. Larval morphological disparity is not a good predictor for adult morphological disparity within the group, with distinct patterns observed among families. Differences between families are notable in other aspects as well, such as the role of allometric components influencing shape and morphospace occupancy. The larval shape has higher phylogenetic structure than the adult. Evolutionary convergence emerges as a mechanism of diversification for both larval and adult shapes in the early evolution of neoaustraranans, with shape disparity of tadpoles reaching stable levels since the Oligocene. The widest occupation in morphospace involves families associated with dynamically changing environments over geological time. Our findings support the ADH driving phenotypic diversity in Neoaustrarana, underscoring the importance of considering ontogenetic stages in evolutionary studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Geometric Morphometrics to Understand Vertebrate and Invertebrate Morphological Diversity)
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13 pages, 3318 KB  
Article
Wing Shape Variation between Terrestrial and Coastal Populations of the Invasive Box Tree Moth, Cydalima perspectalis, in Croatia
by Darija Lemic, Helena Viric Gasparic, Patricija Majcenic, Ivana Pajač Živković, Mario Bjeliš, Manuel J. Suazo, Margarita Correa, Jordan Hernández and Hugo A. Benítez
Animals 2023, 13(19), 3044; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13193044 - 28 Sep 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2542
Abstract
The box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis Walker, 1859; Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an invasive species naturally distributed in Asia. The caterpillars in all developmental stages cause damage through defoliation of plants, and ultimately the death of the plant itself may occur. It is [...] Read more.
The box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis Walker, 1859; Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an invasive species naturally distributed in Asia. The caterpillars in all developmental stages cause damage through defoliation of plants, and ultimately the death of the plant itself may occur. It is possible to recognize this species by its silk barriers and threads, and in the case of an intense attack, the entire plant will be covered with them. In Europe, this species’ presence was first recorded in 2007 in Germany and the Netherlands, and it is now widely distributed. In Croatia, its existence was first recorded in 2012, in Istria, while substantial damages were recorded in 2013. This work aimed to determine the morphological variability of C. perspectalis from Croatia and assess its invasive character, the possibility of flight, and the risk of further spread. The methods of geometric morphometrics were used as the analysis of wing shape. A total of 269 moths from different locations in Croatia were collected, the upper wings of males and females were analyzed using 14 landmarks. Significant differences in wing shapes between terrestrial and coastal populations were found, as well as subtle wing shape sexual dimorphism. The implications of this variability in species invasiveness and capacity of spread are discussed in this paper. We also extrapolate the usefulness of our results and suggest strategies for predicting and managing invasive species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Geometric Morphometrics to Understand Vertebrate and Invertebrate Morphological Diversity)
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