Christophe Mallet

Christophe Mallet is an early career evolutionary biologist and paleontologist specialized in modern and fossil vertebrates. His research focuses on the evolution of skeletal elements at macroevolutionary scales and how functional constraints shape the Bauplan of terrestrial vertebrates.

Researchgate Google Scholar X

Function

Christophe works half-time as a Work Leader at the Institute of Natural Science in Brussels and half-time as Research Assistant at the University of Mons (Departement of Fundamental and Applied Geology). He focuses on deciphering evolutionary patterns of skeletal elements among terrestrial vertebrates at a macroevolutive scale, using a morphofunctional approach. After achieving the complete 3D digitization of the Iguanodons of Bernissart, his current research project focuses on studying the developmental heterochronies among vertebrates to understand the processes leading to gigantism and dwarfism.

Research team: Palaeobiosphere Evolution
Research theme: Ecosystems over time

Current Project(s)

Brain Iguanodon 2.0: Bringing the "Belle-Epoque" collection of Iguanodons collection into the 21st century
FED-tWIN project "EVO-GROW": Evolution of growth in tetrapods: heterochronic shifts and environmental influences

Area of Expertise

Christophe has an important expertise in comparative anatomy and morphofunctional concepts, from modern and fossil mammals (perissodactyls, artiodactyls) to archosaurs (dinosaurs). He works on a daily basis with tools involving 3D imaging (photogrammetry, surface scanning, CT-scan) to study the 3D shape variation in a macroevolutionary context. He notably has a strong expertise in all the concepts of 3D geometric morphometrics.

Professional Experience

After a Master's degree in Biological anthropology and Prehistory from the University of Bordeaux (France), Christophe works several years as a scientific officer in different French museums and institutions before getting a PhD in evolutionary biology at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris (France). His PhD subject led him to work on skeletal adaptations to high body mass (graviportality) among modern and fossil rhinoceros, using 3D analytic tools. Once his PhD completed, he was recruited as a postdoctoral fellow by the University of Liege to achieve the complete 3D digitization of the Iguanodons of Bernissart. Once this project complete, he has been recruited on his current position of Work Leader and Research Assistant both at the Institute of Natural Sciences and at the University of Mons, working on developmental heterochronies among tetrapods to elucidate the emergence of gigantism.

Dissemination activities

Estelle et Noé à la découverte de la Préhistoire

Les Dinosaures - Mille et un docs

Publications

Exhibitions: involved as scientific advisor on the temporary exhibition #GIANTS at the Institute of Natural Sciences

Publication highlights

Bader C., Mallet C., Chahoud J., Amane A., De Cupere B., Berthon R., Lavenne F., Mohaseb A., Davoudi H., Albesso M., Fathi H., Vuillien M., Lesur J., Helmer D., Gourichon L., Hanotte O., Mashkour M., Vila E., Cucchi T. – 2022. Are petrous bones just a repository of ancient biomolecules? Investigating biosystematic signals in sheep petrous bones using 3D geometric morphometrics. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 43, 103447. DOI:10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103447

Mallet C., Billet G., Cornette R., Houssaye A. – 2022. Adaptation to graviportality in Rhinocerotoidea? Long bone shape variation in their hind limb as compared to their forelimb's. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac007

Rajabizadeh M., Wassenbergh S., Mallet C., Rücklin M., Herrel A. – 2020. Tooth-shape adaptations in aglyphous colubrid snakes inferred from three-dimensional geometric morphometrics and finite element analysis. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 191, 2, 454–467. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa063

Mallet C., Billet G., Houssaye A., Cornette R. – 2020. A first glimpse at the influence of body mass in the morphological integration of the limb long bones: an investigation in modern rhinoceroses. Journal of Anatomy, 237, 4, 704– 726. DOI: 10.1111/joa.13232

Mallet C., Cornette R., Billet G., Houssaye A. – 2019. Interspecific variation in the limb long bones among modern rhinoceroses - extent and drivers. PeerJ, 7:e7647. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7647