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 journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Harvard

Chretien, J, Wang-Claypool, CY, Glaw, F & Scherz, MD 2019, 'The bizarre skull of Xenotyphlops sheds light on synapomorphies of Typhlopoidea', Journal of Anatomy, vol. 234, no. 5, pp. 637-655. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12952

APA

Chretien, J., Wang-Claypool, C. Y., Glaw, F., & Scherz, M. D. (2019). The bizarre skull of Xenotyphlops sheds light on synapomorphies of Typhlopoidea. Journal of Anatomy, 234(5), 637-655. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12952

Vancouver

Chretien J, Wang-Claypool CY, Glaw F, Scherz MD. The bizarre skull of Xenotyphlops sheds light on synapomorphies of Typhlopoidea. Journal of Anatomy. 2019;234(5):637-655. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12952

Author

Chretien, Johann ; Wang-Claypool, Cynthia Y. ; Glaw, Frank ; Scherz, Mark D. / The bizarre skull of Xenotyphlops sheds light on synapomorphies of Typhlopoidea. In: Journal of Anatomy. 2019 ; Vol. 234, No. 5. pp. 637-655.

Bibtex

@article{1edb5a6609544cb09910a4d550fbb399,
title = "The bizarre skull of Xenotyphlops sheds light on synapomorphies of Typhlopoidea",
abstract = "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.",
keywords = "comparative morphology, osteology, Scolecophidia, Typhlopoidea, Typhlops, Xenotyphlopidae",
author = "Johann Chretien and Wang-Claypool, {Cynthia Y.} and Frank Glaw and Scherz, {Mark D.}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Anatomical Society",
year = "2019",
doi = "10.1111/joa.12952",
language = "English",
volume = "234",
pages = "637--655",
journal = "Journal of Anatomy",
issn = "0021-8782",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "5",

}

RIS

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