Publication
Title
Biomechanical determinants of bite force dimorphism in **Cyclommatus metallifer** stag beetles
Author
Abstract
In the stag beetle family (Lucanidae), males have diverged from females by sexual selection. The males fight each other for mating opportunities with their enlarged mandibles. It is known that owners of larger fighting apparatuses are favoured to win the male-male fights, but it was unclear whether male stag beetles also need to produce high bite forces while grabbing and lifting opponents in fights. We show that male Cyclommatus metallifer stag beetles bite three times as forcefully as females. This is not entirely unexpected given the spectacular nature of the fights, but all the more impressive given the difficulty of achieving this with their long mandibles (long levers). Our results suggest no increase in male intrinsic muscle strength to accomplish this. However, morphological analyses show that the long mandibular output levers in males are compensated by elongated input levers (and thus a wider anterior side of the head). The surplus of male bite force capability is realized by enlargement of the closer muscles of the mandibles, while overall muscle force direction remained optimal. To enable the forceful bites required to ensure male reproductive success, male head size and shape are adapted for long input levers and large muscles. Therefore, the entire head should be regarded as an integral part of male armature.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The journal of experimental biology. - London, 1930, currens
Publication
London : 2014
ISSN
0022-0949 [print]
1477-9145 [online]
DOI
10.1242/JEB.091744
Volume/pages
217 :7 (2014) , p. 1065-1071
ISI
000333908500014
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Functional Morphology and Biomechanics of the 'Armature' of Stag Beetles.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 06.06.2014
Last edited 09.10.2023
To cite this reference