Data from: Divergent mandibular morphology in American mink (Neogale vison) fossils suggests novel role in past environments
Data files
Sep 25, 2026 version files 635.11 KB
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lmFiles.zip
428.23 KB
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minkFossil_rawMetadata.csv
113.36 KB
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README.md
6.90 KB
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repeatability.zip
86.61 KB
Abstract
Understanding the presence and spatial distribution of intraspecific morphological variation may shed light on the natural history and ecological breadth, realized and potential, of specific taxa. Insights from the paleontological record can provide additional information on potential phenotypic variation for species that have adapted to past and present environments. Here, we use the American mink (Neogale vison) as a case study to understand the extent and pattern of mandibular shape variation among extant populations (n = 290) and fossil assemblages (n = 13). We placed geometric morphometric landmarks and semilandmarks on 3D models generated from laser light scans of mandibles. A subset of specimens were landmarked in triplicate to assess error. We found that some fossil N. vison mandibles lie outside the morphospace occupied by extant N. vison and are distinct from modern mink. Fossils from Conard Fissure, Arkansas (n = 8) represent a unique morphotype that likely had higher bite forces than modern N. vison. This morphotype may have allowed N. vison at this site to take advantage of larger or different prey. These results demonstrate both the adaptive potential of N. vison and the fossil record’s ability to reveal unique variation in a lineage.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.bnzs7h4t8
Description of the data and file structure
These data were collected to compare mandibular shape among fossil and modern mink. The data include 3D files with landmark coordinates for all specimens, and an additional dataset containing the same landmarks replicated in triplicate to assess measurement error. The metadata file contains information from the specimens' museum records, including locality information and notes on scan processing.
Files and variables
File: lmFiles.zip
Description: All raw landmark coordinate data. Each individual file within the folder is named with the specimen catalog number followed by "-lm". Sometimes, this is additionally followed by "-short" and a series of numbers, indicating missing landmarks.
File: minkFossil_rawMetadata.csv
Description: Metadata for the specimens included in this study. Unless otherwise specified, "NA" indicates that this data was not returned in a museum database search.
Variables
- code: Short code used to identify the specimen
- Institution.Code: Museum abbreviation for the specimen
- Catalog.Number: Numeric component of catalog number only
- Notes: Extra information on scan processing. Blank cells indicate no notes
- Missing.teeth.: Indicates any missing teeth in the scan
- Flip.: "R" indicates the right side of the specimen was used; "L" indicates the left side was used; NA indicates fossil with only one side available
- catalognumber: Museum catalog number for the specimen
- sex: Sex of specimen, if known
- lifestage: Indicates if the specimen was an adult or a juvenile. No data indicates no data provided from original museum database search; assumed adult based on specimen observation
- associatedoccurrences: Indicates other museum records associated with this specimen. Blank indicates no data provided by original museum database search
- eventdate: Date associated with specimen collection
- startdayofyear: Julian date associated with eventdate
- enddayofyear: Julian date associated with eventdate
- year: Year of specimen collection
- month: Month of specimen collection associated with eventdate
- day: Day (not Julian Date) of specimen collection associated with eventdate
- verbatimeventdate: Collection date as originally recorded
- continent: Continent where specimen was collected
- waterbody: If collected near an associated waterbody, listed here. Blank indicates no associated water body.
- islandgroup: If collected on an island, the group is listed here. Blank indicates no island group.
- island: If collected on an island, the specific island is listed here. If blank, not collected on an island.
- country: Country where specimen was collected
- stateprovince: State or province where specimen was collected
- county: County where specimen was collected. Blank indicates this information was not provided in the verbatim locality.
- municipality: Municipality where specimen was collected. Blank indicates this information was not provided in the verbatim locality.
- locality: Locality (most specific description) of where specimen was collected
- verbatimlocality: Combination of all above location information (continent, stateprovince, etc.)
- minimumelevationinmeters: Minimum elevation for collection of specimen in meters
- maximumelevationinmeters: Maximum elevation for collection of specimen in meters
- verbatimelevation: Elevation as originally described. Blank indicates this information was not found in the museum database search.
- locationremarks: Remarks on collection location (ex. trapline numbers). Blank indicates no information was returned in the museum database searc
- lat.true: EITHER the GPS latitude (if provided in decimallatitude) OR the latitude estimated from locality data
- long.true: EITHER the GPS longitude (if provided in decimallongitude) OR the longitude estimated from locality data
- datum: Geodetic datum for lat.true and long.true
- coordsApprox: "X" indicates coordinates were approximated using locality data to 1/10 of a degree.
- decimallatitude: Latitude provided by museum records; NA indicates no GPS data
- decimallongitude: Longitude provided by museum records; NA indicates no GPS data
- geodeticdatum: Geodetic datum describing decimallongitude and decimallatitude. NA indicates no GPS data.
- coordinateuncertaintyinmeters: Uncertainty on GPS coordinates. NA indicates unknown or not recorded.
- scientificname: Genus and species designation for each specimen
- genus: Genus for each specimen
- specificepithet: Species epithet. Blank indicates not known (fossils only).
- infraspecificepithet: Subspecies designation, if given. Blank indicates no designation given.
- taxonrank: Lowest (most specific) designation provided
- lengthinmm: Length of specimen in mm, if measured
- lengthtype: Describes how lengthinmm was measured (ex. tail included)
- lengthunitsinferred: Indicates if unit of length was known or inferred in digitization
- massing: Specimen mass
- massunitsinferred: Indicates if unit of mass was known or inferred in digitization
- underivedsex: Sex of specimen
- dataset_citation: Citation of specimen
- hastissue: Indicates if tissues are also housed in a museum or other repository (1) or not (0)
- haslength: Indicates if length data is reported (1) or not (0)
- isfossil: Here, used to designate main categories: 0 indicates a modern specimen, and 1-4 each indicate a different fossil site, as listed in locality and verbatimlocality
File: repeatability.zip
Description: All landmarks taken on a subset of specimens in triplicate to ensure low measurement error. Each file name contains the specimen's catalog number, "-lm-", and a number indicating if it is the first, second, or third set of landmarks for a specimen.
Code/software
One RMarkdown file is provided and commented with code. This file contains all analyses, data organization, and figure generation. The code should only require the user to update the path, to allow for the uploading of the landmark files (folder lmfiles) and metadata file, and to download and load the mink's IUCN range map if they wish to replicate Figure 1 (sample map). All packages used are listed in the first block of code. This code was written in R version 4.4.1.
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
- All 3D models of specimens: https://www.morphosource.org/projects/000908729?locale=en
Data was derived from the following sources:
- IUCN mink range: https://www.iucnredlist.org/fr/species/41661/45214988. Used under their license, version 6.3.