Publication Date:
1985-08-30
Description:
Salamanders of the genus Thorius (Plethodontidae) are among the smallest tetrapods. Hypotheses of limb skeletal evolution in these vertebrates were evaluated on the basis of estimates of natural variation, comparisons of skeletal homology, and analysis of molecular phylogeny. Nine carpal arrangements occur in Thorius, more than in all twelve related genera of typically larger salamanders; six of these arrangements are unique. They represent a trend toward a decrease in the number of separate cartilages that is independent of locomotor and ecological specialization. Miniaturization may be an important source of morphological novelty, distinct from local adaptation, in vertebrates.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Hanken, J -- 1 R23 DE07190-01/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/ -- New York, N.Y. -- Science. 1985 Aug 30;229(4716):871-4.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4023715" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉
Keywords:
Animals
;
Biological Evolution
;
Biometry
;
Carpus, Animal/*anatomy & histology
;
Cartilage, Articular/anatomy & histology
;
Female
;
Forelimb/*anatomy & histology
;
Male
;
Phylogeny
;
Species Specificity
;
Urodela/*anatomy & histology/classification
Print ISSN:
0036-8075
Electronic ISSN:
1095-9203
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Computer Science
,
Medicine
,
Natural Sciences in General
,
Physics
Permalink
