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Evolutionary morphology of the rattlesnake style
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Meik, Jesse M. and Pires-da Silva, André Francisco (2009) Evolutionary morphology of the rattlesnake style. BMC Evolutionary Biology, Volume 9 (Number 1). Article no.35. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-9-35 ISSN 1471-2148.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-9-35
Abstract
Background:
The rattlesnake rattling system is an evolutionary novelty that includes anatomical, behavioral, and physiological modifications of the generalized pitviper tail. One such modification, the formation of a bony clublike style at the terminal region of the caudal vertebrae, has not previously been examined in a phylogenetic context. Here we used skeletal material, cleared and stained preparations, and radiographs of whole preserved specimens to examine interspecific variation in style morphology among 34 rattlesnake species.
Results:
Evolutionary Principal Components Analysis revealed an inverse relationship between caudal segmental counts and style size, supporting the hypothesis that bone from caudal vertebral elements was reallocated to style formation during the evolution of this structure. Most of the basal rattlesnake species have small styles consisting of few compacted vertebral elements; however, early in the rattlesnake radiation there appears to have been two independent transitions to relatively large, pronged styles consisting of multiple coalesced vertebrae (once in Sistrurus catenatus, and once in Crotalus following the divergence of the Mexican long-tailed rattlesnakes). In terms of style shape, the two most divergent species, C. catalinensis and C. ericsmithi, provide insight into the possible relationship between style and rattle matrix morphology and lineage-specific evolutionary strategies for retaining rattle segments.
Conclusion:
The considerable interspecific variation in rattle morphology appears to correspond to variation in the bony style. We hypothesize that style morphology evolves indirectly as an integrated module responding to adaptive evolution on matrix morphology.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
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Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Rattlesnakes -- Anatomy, Rattlesnakes -- Physiology, Rattlesnakes -- Morphology, Morphology, Vertebrates -- Evolution | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | BMC Evolutionary Biology | ||||
Publisher: | Bio Med Central | ||||
ISSN: | 1471-2148 | ||||
Official Date: | 2009 | ||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | Volume 9 | ||||
Number: | Number 1 | ||||
Page Range: | Article no.35 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1186/1471-2148-9-35 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 23 December 2015 | ||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 23 December 2015 | ||||
Funder: | National Science Foundation (U.S.) (NSF) | ||||
Grant number: | 0613802 (NSF) |
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