Supplementary Dataset for Morphofunctional Analysis of the Forelimb in Caraguatypotherium munozi (Notoungulata, Mesotheriidae)

Description
This dataset was originally developed as part of the author's doctoral thesis at Universidad Austral de Chile (2021). It supports a morphofunctional analysis of the forelimb in Caraguatypotherium munozi (Notoungulata; Mesotheriidae), with a focus on scratch-digging adaptations assessed through biomechanical indicators.

Following its initial development, the dataset was revised and validated within the framework of the Fondecyt Iniciación Project Nº 11231111. These data contribute to a comparative framework for morphofunctional reconstructions in extinct mammals and promote reproducibility and further research.

The dataset includes raw osteological measurements, calculated functional indices—such as effective mechanical advantage (EMA)—wrist joint mobility (range of motion, RoM), and outputs from principal component analyses (PCA). Comparative data from extant mammals are provided.

Contents

• Supplementary File 1.xlsx – Osteological data, functional indices, and mechanical advantage values for Mesotheriidae and extant mammals

• This file includes raw and size-corrected osteological measurements, functional limb indices (e.g., Epicondylar Index, Brachial Indices), and mechanical advantage values for elbow and wrist models. Data were collected from fossil mesotheriids and extant mammals and were used in multivariate analyses (PCA) to explore forelimb morphology and digging adaptations.

• Supplementary File 2.xlsx – Reliability and validity assessment of digitized osteological measurements

  This file contains two supplementary datasets evaluating the methodological robustness of digital morphometric measurements used in the study.

  • Sheet 1 ("Reliability") reports intraobserver agreement across two digitizing sessions separated by one week, including intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and interpretive categories following Shrout & Fleiss (1979).

  • Sheet 2 ("Validity") presents concurrent criterion validity through Pearson correlation analysis comparing caliper-based direct measurements with digital indirect estimates from images.

  These validation procedures support the consistency and accuracy of the data used in morphometric and biomechanical analyses of fossil and extant mammals.

• Supplementary File 3.xlsx – Principal Component Analysis Coordinates
  PCA scores and loading values based on osteological and functional variables, used to position taxa within a morphofunctional space.

• measurement.txt – R Script for PCA on Raw Measurements
  R code for PCA using prcomp and FactoMineR on osteological variables, including data transformation and graphical output.

• index.txt – R Script for PCA on Functional Indices
  R code for PCA on functional indices and EMA values, with clustering and plots of variable contributions.