Team EVOMORPH

Coordination : Guillaume BILLET and Isabelle KRUTA

Fossil data provides an essential foundation for documenting the evolution of organisms and their morphological traits, as well as taxonomic diversification in deep time. However, the complexity of morphological evolution often leaves significant gaps in our understanding of past evolutionary patterns—gaps that remain under-explored despite the vast potential of the fossil record. 

Addressing this challenge, the EVOMORPH team investigates a central question: How can we effectively characterize the evolution of organisms and their anatomy across geological timescales?

To answer this, the team employs an integrated framework of five core themes, through three primary lenses:

• Analyzing functional, phylogenetic, and ontogenetic evolutionary components.

• Observing anatomy across multiple scales, from whole organisms to micro-structures.

• Mapping phenotypic innovations onto a precisely dated Tree of Life.

Our team brings together anatomists specializing in a wide array of taxa spanning the Paleozoic to the Cenozoic. This broad expertise across continental and marine environments enables us to investigate anatomical evolution through large-scale collaborative projects. The team’s research models notably encompass anatomical structures related to feeding (teeth, masticatory and prehensile apparatuses) across various taxa, including vertebrates, mollusks, and arthropods. Other focal areas include skeletal tissue microstructure, serial homology (teeth, vertebrae, limbs, and pharyngeal arches), mineralized tissue-muscle interactions, shells/exoskeletons, and sensory organs.

The team leverages a comprehensive suite of established and emerging methodologies. We combine advanced imaging (e.g., µCT-scan, SR-µCT, XRF) and specialized specimen preparation with diverse analytical capabilities, including geometric morphometrics, finite element analysis, and phylogenetic modeling to characterize morphological variation and date the Tree of Life. The team benefits from the MNHN’s world-class collections and new fossil material recovered through its frequent field excavations. By bridging fossil data from exceptional preservation with extant biological models, we also seek to maximize the depth and accuracy of our evolutionary reconstructions. 

A) 3D models of Grammoceras thouarsense realized using photogrammetry (240a0, collection P. Lacroix). B) CT scan of Nautilus macromphalus showing the shell and the mineralized part of the beak (MNHN collections). C) XRF (CRC, MNHN, Paris) of Dorateuthis syriaca (MNHN.F.A88588), Cretaceous, showing the elementary maps in soft tissues  (Ti= red; Fe= blu; Y= green).

FUNCTIONS (led by Sandrine Ladevèze et Damien Germain)

• How is the morphological evolution of an anatomical structure related to its function?

PVC – Phylogeny and Complex Morphological Variations ((led by Isabelle Rouget et Véronique Barriel)

• How can we extract the phylogenetic signal from complex morphological variations?

ONTOGENY (led by Helder Gomes Rodrigues et Alan Pradel)

• How does ontogeny shed light on morphological evolution?

PALEOHISTOLOGY (led by Alexandra Quilhac et Jorge Cubo) 

• What factors explain the microstructural variations of mineralized tissues?

CHRONOLOGY (led by Michel Laurin) 

• How can we use fossils to study temporal variations in taxonomic and phenotypic biodiversity?

Regular staff: Christine Argot, Denis Audo, Nathalie Bardet, Véronique Barriel, Guillaume Billet, Gaël Clément, Jorge Cubo, Vincent Dupret, Damien Germain, Helder Gomes Rodrigues, Isabelle Kruta, Sandrine Ladevèze, Michel Laurin, Alan Pradel, Alexandra Quilhac, Isabelle Rouget , Séverine Toussaint, Peggy Vincent

Emeritus: Marc Godinot, Philippe Janvier, Christian de Muizon, Louise Zylberberg

Docs & postdocs: Juan Carrillo, Cassandra Cheyron, François Clarac, Aimie Doriath Dölher, Tom Forêt, Emma Guyonneau, Guillaume Houée, Vincent Luccisano, Émile Pageau, Maxime Renaud, Lee Rozada, Alicia Sánchez Gimeno, Juliette Vendanger