Quantifying morphological variability within extant mammalian species
Date
1995
Authors
Thackeray, J. F.
Helbig, J.
Moss, S.
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research
Abstract
In this study we attempt to establish a baseline for measuring species variability in the
palaeontological record by using linear regression analysis on sets of measurements from extant
mammalian species (males and females within species). In particular, this study explores the
standard error of the m-coefficient (s.e.m) , derived from linear regression analyses associated with
equations of the form y = mx + c, to quantify the degree of morphological variability within extant
mammalian species. The slope m generally centres around 1.00. Even though the species in this
study range in size from small rodents to large ungulates, s.e'm values show a normal distribution
around a mean of 0.035 . The approach outlined here has potential application in palaeontological
contexts where there is uncertainty about any two specimens being conspecific.
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