On caudal prehensility and phylogenetic constraint in lizards: The influence of ancestral anatomy on function in Corucia and Furcifer

Journal of Morphology
Kevin C ZippelJohn E A Bertram

Abstract

We examined caudal anatomy in two species of prehensile-tailed lizards, Furcifer pardalis and Corucia zebrata. Although both species use their tails to grasp, each relies on a strikingly different anatomy to do so. The underlying anatomies appear to reflect phylogenetic constraints on the consequent functional mechanisms. Caudal autotomy is presumably the ancestral condition for lizards and is allowed by a complex system of interdigitating muscle segments. The immediate ancestor of chameleons was nonautotomous and did not possess this specialized anatomy; consequently, the derived arrangement in the chameleon tail is unique among lizards. The limb functions as an articulated linkage system with long tendinous bands originating from longitudinal muscles to directly manipulate vertebrae. Corucia is incapable of autotomy, but it is immediately derived from autotomous ancestors. As such, it has evolved a biomechanical system for prehension quite different from that of chameleons. The caudal anatomy in Corucia is very similar to that of lizards with autotomous tails, yet distinct differences in the ancestral pattern and its relationship to the subdermal tunic are derived. Instead of the functional unit being individual autotomy segm...Continue Reading

Citations

Dec 29, 2019·Journal of Morphology·Allison M LugerDominique Adriaens
May 14, 2010·Biology Letters·Renaud BoistelVincent Bels
Jul 4, 2015·Science·Michael M PorterJoanna McKittrick
Apr 5, 2014·Journal of Anatomy·C NeutensL Van Hoorebeke
Dec 31, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Timothy E HighamAnthony P Russell
Jul 4, 2012·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Terrence B RitzmanRebecca E Fisher
Aug 20, 2005·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Elizabeth L Brainerd, Emanuel Azizi
Dec 1, 2012·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Anthony HerrelBieke Vanhooydonck
Nov 30, 2010·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Greg Byrnes, Bruce C Jayne
Jun 12, 2021·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Allison M LugerDominique Adriaens

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