Linear measurements of felid hyoid bones

Deutsch, Ashley 1 ; Hartstone-Rose, Adam1

Published Jan 30, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.j6q573nkp

Data files

Jan 30, 2026 version files 42.80 KB

Cat_Hyoid_1.29.26.csv

39.08 KB
README.md

3.72 KB

Abstract

This dataset includes measurements from ossied hyoid elements of extant felids as well as Smilodon fatalis and Panthera atrox from the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum (Los Angeles, CA).

Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.j6q573nkp

Description of the data and file structure

These data are linear caliper measurements taken from the hyoid bones of extant members of Felidae as well as Smilodon fatalis and Panthera atrox.

Files and variables

File: Cat_Hyoid_1.29.26.csv

Description: These data are linear caliper measurements taken from the hyoid bones of extant members of Felidae as well as Smilodon fatalis and Panthera atrox. All measurements are in mm.

Variables

Specimen ID: from the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum unless otherwise noted
Scientific Name: Species identification
Sex: M = male; F = female; n/a represents unknown
Side: R = right; L = left; n/a = midline or unknown
Age: adult or juvenile
Element: Bone of the hyoid
(S1) proximal end width: Stylohyoid proximal end width (all measurements are in mm; see Deutsch et al. 2023 for further description and visual representation; all stylohyoid measurements represent either left or right stylohyoid)
(S1) proximal end thickness: Stylohyoid proximal end thickness
(S1) distal end width: Stylohyoid distal end width
(S1) distal end thickness: Stylohyoid distal end thickness
(S1) Midshaft width: Stylohyoid midshaft width
(S1) Midshaft thickness: Stylohyoid midshaft thick
(S1) Maximal length: Stylohyoid maximal length
(E1) proximal end width: Epihyoid proximal end width (all epihyoid measurements represent either left or right epihyoid)
(E1) proximal end thickness: Epihyoid proximal end thickness
(E1) distal end width: Epihyoid distal end width
(E1) distal end thickness: Epihyoid distal end thickness
(E1) Midshaft width: Epihyoid midshaft width
(E1) Midshaft thickness: Epihyoid midshaft thickness
(E1) Maximal length: Epihyoid maximal length
(C1) proximal end width: Ceratohyoid proximal end width (all ceratohyoid measurements represent either left or right ceratohyoid)
(C1) proximal end thickness: Ceratohyoid proximal end thickness
(C1) distal end width: Ceratohyoid distal end width
(C1) distal end thickness: Ceratohyoid distal end thickness
(C1) Neck width: Ceratohyoid neck width
(C1) Neck thickness: Ceratohyoid neck thickness
(C1) Maximal length: Ceratohyoid maximal length
(B) left end width: Basihyoid left end width
(B) left end thickness: Basihyoid left end thickness
(B) right end width: Basihyoid right end width
(B) right end thickness: Basihyoid right end thickness
(B) Midshaft width: Basihyoid midshaft width
(B) Midshaft thickness: Basihyoid midshaft thickness
(B) Maximal length: Basihyoid maximal length
(B) Inner chord length: Basihyoid inner chord length
(B) Inner chord height: Basihyoid inner chord height
(T1) proximal end width: Thyrohyoid proximal end width (all thyrohyoid measurements represent either left or right thyrohyoid)
(T1) proximal end thickness: Thyrohyoid proximal end thickness
(T1) distal end width: Thyrohyoid distal end width
(T1) distal end thickness: Thyrohyoid distal end thickness
(T1) Midshaft width: Thyrohyoid midshaft width
(T1) Midshaft thickness: Thyrohyoid midshaft thickness
(T1) Maximal length: Thyrohyoid maximal length

Code/software

Can be opened and viewed with any software that can read .csv files

Access information

Data was derived from the following sources:

Deutsch AR, Langerhans RB, Flores D, and Hartstone-Rose A. 2023. The roar of Rancho La Brea? Comparative anatomy of modern and fossil felid hyoid bones. Journal of Morphology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21627