Figure 1: The first two canonical variates of the canonical variate analysis (CV1 and CV2) of skull shape variation amongst localities of R. simulator . Light blue outline represents the average shape; dark blue outline shows the deviation of shape of the skull from the average. Locality abbreviations: NZ = northern Zimbabwe, SZ = southern Zimbabwe and parts of northern South Africa and south of Botswana, NE = north-eastern South Africa, SE = south-eastern South Africa, and DR = Democratic republic of Congo.
For R. cf. simulator , the first two canonical variates of CVA of shape variation amongst localities explained 100% of the variation (Fig. 2). CV1 was associated with changes in the caudal region and anterior medial swelling of the skull, as shown by the wireframe graphs (77% of the variation; Fig. 2). The NZ locality fell at the positive end of CV1 and appeared to have a smaller and more anteriorly positioned anterior medial swelling and a narrower and more shortened cranium than the average shape. Conversely, DR locality fell at the negative end of CV1 and had a larger more posterior nasal dome, a broader and longer cranium relative to the average. One locality (NE) fell within the intermediate shape zone. CV2 was associated with the cochlea and caudal dimensions (Fig. 2). All localities seemed to group on the average shape space for CV2 which accounted for 23% of the variation. CV3 could not be derived from the R. cf. simulator data set because of the small sample size.