Comparative osteology of the hynobiid complex Liua ‐ Protohynobius ‐ Pseudohynobius (Amphibia, Urodela): Ⅰ. Cranial anatomy of Pseudohynobius

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Jia ◽  
Ke‐Qin Gao ◽  
Jian‐ping Jiang ◽  
Gabriel S. Bever ◽  
Rongchuan Xiong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Osteology

Holocene amphibians and reptiles from Voroncha (Belarus): Comparative osteology, paleopathology and paleobiogeography

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 508-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viatcheslav Yurievich Ratnikov ◽  
Hugues-Alexandre Blain
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Osteology

scholarly journals Coping with the extremes: comparative osteology of the tepui-associated toad Oreophrynella and its bearing on the evolution of osteological novelties in the genus

2020 ◽  
Vol 190 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-139
Author(s):  
Philippe J R Kok ◽  
Milan A J van der Velden ◽  
D Bruce Means ◽  
Sebastian Ratz ◽  
Iván Josipovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Vertebral Column ◽  
Relative Length ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Microcomputed Tomography ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Character Reconstruction ◽  
Ancestral Character Reconstruction ◽  
Comparative Osteology

Abstract The only study of the osteology of the toad genus Oreophrynella dates back to 1971 and was based on a single species. Here, we use high-resolution X-ray microcomputed tomography to analyse the osteology of all nine described Oreophrynella species, which are compared with representatives of other bufonid lineages. Oreophrynella is unique among bufonids in having opposable digits. Osteological synapomorphies confirmed for the genus are as follows: presence of parietal fontanelles and exposed frontoparietal fontanelle, absence of quadratojugal, five presacral vertebrae, distally enlarged terminal phalanges and urostyle greatly expanded into flanges. Ancestral character reconstruction indicates that arboreal habits in some Oreophrynella species are likely to have evolved after the evolution of opposable digits. Opposable digits, in combination with an extension of the interdigital integument and the relative length/orientation of the digits, are likely to be adaptations to facilitate life on rocky tepui summits and an exaptation to arboreality. Cranial simplification in Oreophrynella, in the form of cranial fontanelles and absence of the quadratojugal, is possibly driven by a reduction of developmental costs, increase in flexibility and reduction of body weight. Cranial simplification combined with the shortening of the vertebral column and the shift towards a partly firmisternal girdle might be adaptations to the peculiar tumbling behaviour displayed by Oreophrynella.

scholarly journals A comparative atlas of the skull osteology of European lizards (Reptilia: Squamata)

2019 ◽  
Vol 187 (3) ◽  
pp. 829-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Villa ◽  
Massimo Delfino
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
European Species ◽  
History Of ◽  
Diagnostic Key ◽  
Single Bone ◽  
Fossil Lizards ◽  
Bone Remains ◽  
Comparative Osteology ◽  
Broad Scale

Abstract The fossil record provides evidence of a long evolutionary history of European lizards. Since fossil lizards are regularly represented by bone remains, the knowledge of the origins of extant taxa and their distribution in time and space is hindered by the fact that their comparative osteology is not yet completely and adequately known. In spite of a rising interest in this topic since the end of the 20th century, a gap in our knowledge is still evident. We here report the first broad-scale comparative osteological analysis of the skulls of extant European lizards, highlighting significant differences that can be used in identification. This comparative study, including as many European species as possible, leads to the creation of a detailed diagnostic key for each single bone. Also, our data significantly improve the recognizability of extant European non-snake squamates, with 54% of the current diversity to be recognized based on the new results contra the previously estimated 31%. This recognizability is expected to further increase in the future, with new studies focusing on species that are either missing or poorly represented here, or applying promising advanced methodologies.

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