ArticleBMC evolutionary biology2019
The multifactorial nature of beak and skull shape evolution in parrots and cockatoos (Psittaciformes).
Article in BMC evolutionary biology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers.
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21 citing papers in PubMed, 76 citations in OpenAlex.
- Variation in parrot jaw musculature.Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007) · 2026Article
- Fit for purpose? Analysis of the relationship between skull, beak shape and feeding ecology in Psittaciformes.Journal of anatomy · 2026Article
- Structural Equation Modeling Reveals How Allometry Shapes Integration in Avian Cranial Evolution.Integrative and comparative biology · 2026Article
- Estimated and in vivo measurements of bite force demonstrate exceptionally large bite forces in parrots (Psittaciformes).Journal of anatomy · 2025Article
- Morphological diversity in the honeyeater hyolingual apparatus and its relationship with nectarivory.PloS one · 2025Article
- Ecological drivers of jaw morphological evolution in lepidosaurs.Proceedings. Biological sciences · 2024Article
- Article
- Food transport in Reptilia: a comparative viewpoint.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2023Review
- Innovation and elaboration on the avian tree of life.Science advances · 2023Article
- The neck as a keystone structure in avian macroevolution and mosaicism.BMC biology · 2023Article
- Beak shape and nest material use in birds.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2023Article
- Article
- Diet of Mesozoic toothed birds (Longipterygidae) inferred from quantitative analysis of extant avian diet proxies.BMC biology · 2022Article
- Beyond the beak: Brain size and allometry in avian craniofacial evolution.Journal of anatomy · 2022Article
- Allometric conservatism in the evolution of bird beaks.Evolution letters · 2022Article
- Trophic niche shifts and phenotypic trait evolution are largely decoupled in Australasian parrots.BMC ecology and evolution · 2021Article
- Complex genetic architecture of three-dimensional craniofacial shape variation in domestic pigeons.Evolution & development · 2021Article
- The diet of early birds based on modern and fossil evidence and a new framework for its reconstruction.Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society · 2021Review
- Patterns of skeletal integration in birds reveal that adaptation of element shapes enables coordinated evolution between anatomical modules.Nature ecology & evolution · 2021Article
- Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
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Abstract
backgroundThe Psittaciformes (parrots and cockatoos) are characterised by their large beaks, and are renowned for their ability to produce high bite forces. These birds also possess a suite of modifications to their cranial architecture interpreted to be adaptations for feeding on mechanically resistant foods, yet the relationship between cranial morphology and diet has never been explicitly tested. Here, we provide a three-dimensional geometric morphometric analysis of the developmental and biomechanical factors that may be influencing the evolution of psittaciformes' distinctive cranial morphologies.
resultsContrary to our own predictions, we find that dietary preferences for more- or less- mechanically resistant foods have very little influence on beak and skull shape, and that diet predicts only 2.4% of the shape variation in psittaciform beaks and skulls. Conversely, evolutionary allometry and integration together predict almost half the observed shape variation, with phylogeny remaining an important factor in shape identity throughout our analyses, particularly in separating cockatoos (Cacatuoidea) from the true parrots (Psittacoidea).
conclusionsOur results are similar to recent findings about the evolutionary trajectories of skull and beak shape in other avian families. We therefore propose that allometry and integration are important factors causing canalization of the avian head, and while diet clearly has an influence on beak shape between families, this may not be as important at driving evolvability within families as is commonly assumed.
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