Jacob Nelson, Erin M Woeste, Ken Oba, Kathleen Bitterman, Brendon K Billings, James Sacco, Bob Jacobs, Chet C Sherwood, Paul R Manger, Muhammad A Spocter
Felids have evolved a specialized suite of morphological adaptations for obligate carnivory. Although the musculoskeletal anatomy of the Felidae has been studied extensively, the comparative neuroanatomy of felids is relatively unexplored. Little is known about how variation in cerebral anatomy of felids relates to species-specific differences in sociality, hunting strategy, or activity patterns. We quantitatively analyzed neuropil variation in the prefrontal, primary motor, and primary visual cortices of six species of Felidae (Panthera leo, Panthera uncia, Panthera tigris, Panthera Leopardus, Acinonyx jubatus, Felis sylvestris domesticus) to investigate relationships with brain size, neuronal cell parameters, and select behavioral and ecological factors...
February 14, 2024: Brain, Behavior and Evolution