A new study by researchers at the University of Bristol has uncovered a fascinating example of how diversification in ruminant skulls can occur from both microevolutionary and macroevolutionary processes. The researchers studied the skulls of sheep and goats, comparing them to those of other ruminant species such as cows, and found that the skulls have evolved rapidly in both microevolutionary and macroevolutionary timescales. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, is the first to demonstrate this dual process of diversification in ruminant skulls.

The researchers found that the skulls of sheep and goats had rapidly diverged from those of other ruminant species, such as cows, over short periods of time. The skulls of sheep and goats also showed evidence of rapid evolution in both microevolutionary and macroevolutionary timescales. This means that both short-term and long-term evolutionary processes were at work in the diversification of ruminant skulls. Furthermore, the skulls of sheep and goats were found to be more heavily modified than those of other ruminant species, suggesting that the diversification of ruminant skulls was driven by selection for specific traits.

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source: Phys.org