Masticatory Apparatus Performance and Functional Morphology in the Extremely Large Mice from Gough Island

Gough Island house mice (Mus musculus) have evolved to become the largest wild house mice on record, with significant increases in body size and a predatory diet consisting of seabird chicks and eggs. Research indicates that these mice exhibit enhanced masticatory performance, including greater bite force and jaw gape, compared to mainland strains. While their musculoskeletal features are absolutely larger, they show reduced performance relative to body size or jaw length, suggesting a size-related decrease in abilities. However, certain features like incisor biting leverage and condylar dimensions suggest evolutionary enhancements correlated with extreme body size and diet shifts.

Parmenter, M. D., Nelson, J. P., Weigel, S. E., Gray, M. M., Payseur, B. A., & Vinyard, C. J. (2019). Masticatory Apparatus Performance and Functional Morphology in the Extremely Large Mice from Gough Island. The Anatomical Record, 303(1), 167–179. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.24053