Adaptations to sociality in the mimetic and auricular musculature of the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)

Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2024 Apr 10. doi: 10.1002/ar.25441. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is a highly social canid that engages in sophisticated, coordinated group hunting tactics to procure large game. It is one of the most effective hunters of the African savannah, due to its highly developed communication methods. It also has large, mobile ears which enhance its auditory capabilities while hunting and assist with thermoregulation. Recent research suggested that certain muscles of facial expression, particularly those involved with expressive eyebrow movement, evolved solely in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) to facilitate communication with their human owners. However, it is unclear whether highly social wild canid species may also employ similar expressive eye communication. We performed detailed dissections of an adult male L. pictus to evaluate and describe its mimetic and auricular musculature. Overall, L. pictus has well-developed facial and ear muscles. Musculi levator anguli oculi medialis (LAOM) and retractor anguli oculi lateralis (RAOL), mimetic muscles of hypothesized importance in domestic dog-human non-verbal communication, are enlarged in L. pictus, comparable in size to those of domestic dogs, as is m. orbicularis oculi. This morphology suggests that ocular facial expressions contribute to within-pack communication in wild dogs and are not unique to domestic dogs. The auricular muscles of L. pictus are well-developed, suppor...

Source: Anatomical Record - April 10, 2024 Category: Anatomy Authors: Heather F Smith Mia A Felix Felicia A Rocco Leigha M Lynch Dominik Valdez Source Type: research