The temporal fenestra in the skulls in fossils of ancestral mammals changed in shape and size over time. These changes were most likely due to changes in the muscles that closed the jaws. Which of the following research approaches would be most helpful for understanding the evolutionary benefits of these changes?
A) correlating the fenestra size with changes in the shape of the teeth
B) correlating the strength of jaw closure and the size and hardness of potential prey
C) comparing the changes in the fenestra in the fossils leading to mammals with the changes in the fossils leading to modern reptiles
D) comparing changes in the fenestra with changes in the jaw hinge

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Correlating the strength of jaw closure with the size and hardness of potential prey would directly address how changes in the temporal fenestra, which are related to jaw muscle attachment and thus jaw strength, could have provided evolutionary benefits by enabling the processing of different types of food. This approach would help understand the functional significance of these morphological changes.

The Temporal Fenestra in the Skulls in Fossils of Ancestral