Interspecific variation in the craniofacial morphology of kangaroos and wallabies is associated with diet and feeding behaviors. Yet, to how fine a taxonomic scale this relationship might exist is unknown. Using a combination of established morphometric analyses and novel finite element approaches, we test the limits of these associations by examining three closely-related pademelon taxa: the red-necked pademelon (Thylogale thetis), and two subspecies of the red-legged pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica stigmatica and Thylogale stigmatica wilcoxi). All three taxa have distinct proportions of graze (grasses) and browse (leaves, stems, and branches of trees and shrubs) in their diets. We identified clear morphological differences in the crania between all three taxa and significant influences of geography and climate on cranial shape. We found significant differences in shape and strain magnitudes along the muzzle and cheek bones of each group that are consistent with the properties of their respective diets. These results suggest that feeding ecology influences craniofacial morphology down to the subspecies scale for at least some kangaroos and wallabies, which mirrors what is known at the macroevolutionary level for these species. This lends further weight to the predictive value of cranial morphology in determining feeding ecology among the Macropodiformes and may be of use in inferring feeding ecology of less accessible species for conservation and management.

中文翻译：

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喂养生物力学影响澳大利亚 Pademelons 亚种规模的颅面形态学（Macropodidae：Thylogale）

袋鼠和小袋鼠颅面形态的种间变异与饮食和摄食行为有关。然而，这种关系可能存在的分类尺度有多细尚不得而知。我们结合使用已建立的形态测量分析和新颖的有限元方法，通过检查三个密切相关的鹦鹉类群来测试这些关联的局限性：红颈鹦鹉 (Thylogale thetis) 和红腿鹦鹉 (Thylogale stigmatica stigmatica 和 Thylogale stigmatica wilcoxi)。所有这三个类群在它们的饮食中都有不同比例的吃草（草）和食草（树叶、茎和树木和灌木的树枝）。我们确定了所有三个分类群之间颅骨的明显形态差异以及地理和气候对颅骨形状的显着影响。我们发现每组的口吻和颧骨的形状和应变大小存在显着差异，这与各自饮食的特性一致。这些结果表明，摄食生态对至少一些袋鼠和小袋鼠的颅面形态影响到亚种规模，这反映了这些物种在宏观进化水平上的已知情况。这进一步增强了颅骨形态在确定巨足目动物摄食生态学方面的预测价值，并可用于推断不易接近物种的摄食生态学以进行保护和管理。这些结果表明，摄食生态对至少一些袋鼠和小袋鼠的颅面形态影响到亚种规模，这反映了这些物种在宏观进化水平上的已知情况。这进一步增强了颅骨形态在确定巨足目动物摄食生态学方面的预测价值，并可用于推断不易接近物种的摄食生态学以进行保护和管理。这些结果表明，摄食生态对至少一些袋鼠和小袋鼠的颅面形态影响到亚种规模，这反映了这些物种在宏观进化水平上的已知情况。这进一步增强了颅骨形态在确定巨足目动物摄食生态学方面的预测价值，并可用于推断不易接近物种的摄食生态学以进行保护和管理。