The bizarre skull of Xenotyphlops sheds light on synapomorphies of Typhlopoidea
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The bizarre skull of Xenotyphlops sheds light on synapomorphies of Typhlopoidea. / Chretien, Johann; Wang-Claypool, Cynthia Y.; Glaw, Frank; Scherz, Mark D.
In: Journal of Anatomy, Vol. 234, No. 5, 2019, p. 637-655.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The bizarre skull of Xenotyphlops sheds light on synapomorphies of Typhlopoidea
AU - Chretien, Johann
AU - Wang-Claypool, Cynthia Y.
AU - Glaw, Frank
AU - Scherz, Mark D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2019 Anatomical Society
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - The emerging picture of non-monophyly of scolecophidian snakes is increasingly indicative that fossorial lifestyle, myrmecophagous diet, and miniaturisation are powerful drivers of morphological evolution in squamate skulls. We provide a detailed description of the skull of Xenotyphlops grandidieri, with reference to the skulls of other scolecophidian snakes. The skull, which shows dramatic ventral inflection of the snout complex, is remarkably bizarre, and the mouth opening is more ventrally oriented than in other typhlopoids. The eyes are strongly reduced, and the enlarged and rather flat anterior head shield is covered in numerous sensillae. We put forward several potential explanations for the evolution of these unusual modifications. On the other hand, Xenotyphlops shares numerous synapomorphies with other typhlopoid snakes, including the highly specialized jaw mechanism. We argue that the key differences between the jaw mechanisms of Leptotyphlopidae, Anomalepididae, and Typhlopoidea provide compelling evidence for a strong role of convergence in the evolution of the scolecophidian bauplan, and these clades therefore cannot be interpreted as representative of ancestral anatomy or ecology among snakes.
AB - The emerging picture of non-monophyly of scolecophidian snakes is increasingly indicative that fossorial lifestyle, myrmecophagous diet, and miniaturisation are powerful drivers of morphological evolution in squamate skulls. We provide a detailed description of the skull of Xenotyphlops grandidieri, with reference to the skulls of other scolecophidian snakes. The skull, which shows dramatic ventral inflection of the snout complex, is remarkably bizarre, and the mouth opening is more ventrally oriented than in other typhlopoids. The eyes are strongly reduced, and the enlarged and rather flat anterior head shield is covered in numerous sensillae. We put forward several potential explanations for the evolution of these unusual modifications. On the other hand, Xenotyphlops shares numerous synapomorphies with other typhlopoid snakes, including the highly specialized jaw mechanism. We argue that the key differences between the jaw mechanisms of Leptotyphlopidae, Anomalepididae, and Typhlopoidea provide compelling evidence for a strong role of convergence in the evolution of the scolecophidian bauplan, and these clades therefore cannot be interpreted as representative of ancestral anatomy or ecology among snakes.
KW - comparative morphology
KW - osteology
KW - Scolecophidia
KW - Typhlopoidea
KW - Typhlops
KW - Xenotyphlopidae
U2 - 10.1111/joa.12952
DO - 10.1111/joa.12952
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 30740684
AN - SCOPUS:85061446116
VL - 234
SP - 637
EP - 655
JO - Journal of Anatomy
JF - Journal of Anatomy
SN - 0021-8782
IS - 5
ER -
ID: 284287964