Khannoon, ER;
Evans, SE;
(2020)
Embryonic skull development in the gecko, Tarentola annularis (Squamata: Gekkota: Phyllodactylidae).
Journal of Anatomy
, 237
(5)
pp. 504-519.
10.1111/joa.13213.
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Abstract
Tarentola annularis is a climbing gecko with a wide distribution in Africa north of the equator. In the present paper, we describe the development of the osteocranium of this lizard, from the first appearance of the cranial elements up to the point of hatching. This is based on a combination of histology and cleared and stained specimens. This is the first comprehensive account of gekkotan pre‐hatching skull development based on a comprehensive series of embryos, rather than a few selected stages. Given that Gekkota is now widely regarded as representing the sister group to other squamates, this account helps to fill a significant gap in the literature. Moreover, as many authors have considered features of the gekkotan skull and skeleton to be indicative of paedomorphosis, it is important to know whether this hypothesis is supported by delays in the onset of cranial ossification. In fact, we found the sequence of cranial bone ossification to be broadly comparable to that of other squamates studied to date, with no significant lags in development.
Type: | Article |
---|---|
Title: | Embryonic skull development in the gecko, Tarentola annularis (Squamata: Gekkota: Phyllodactylidae) |
Location: | England |
Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
DOI: | 10.1111/joa.13213 |
Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13213 |
Language: | English |
Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
Keywords: | cranial morphology, development, lizards, osteocranium, paedomorphosis |
UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences > Cell and Developmental Biology |
URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10100706 |




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