What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to explore how body size, diet, and habitat affect head shape and bite force in monitor lizards.

Drivers of variation in head shape and bite force in monitor lizards

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This research investigates how diet and habitat influence head shape and bite power in monitor lizards, indicating ecological adaptations.

The study aims to explore how body size, diet, and habitat affect head shape and bite force in monitor lizards.
Investigated morphological and ecological variations across 88 monitor lizard species.
Utilized phylogenetically informed comparative methods to analyze cranial shape and bite force.
Estimated bite force in extinct species, comparing them to contemporary large predators.
Insectivorous and arboreal species have more elongated heads, while durophagous species possess taller heads suited for strong biting.
Habitat influences head shape diversity more than body size, with terrestrial–arboreal contrasts being significant.
Lower jaw length emerged as the strongest predictor of bite force across species.

Rouault et al. (2026) studied this question.

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This research investigates how diet and habitat influence head shape and bite power in monitor lizards, indicating ecological adaptations.