Descriptive osteology and patterns of limb loss of the European limbless skink Ophiomorus punctatissimus (Squamata, Scincidae)
Camaiti, Marco (Università di Torino. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra)
Villa, Andrea (Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie)
Wencker, Lukardis (Università di Torino. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra)
Bauer, Aaron M.. (Villanova University. Department of Biology (USA))
Stanley, Edward L. (Florida Museum of Natural History. Department of Herpetology)
Delfino, Massimo (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)

Date:	2019
Abstract:	The limbless skink Ophiomorus punctatissimus is a cryptozoic species found in the Peloponnese region of Greece and on the Greek island Kythira. To provide the first thorough description of the cranial and postcranial osteology of this species, both disarticulated specimens and X-ray computed tomographies of wet-preserved specimens were examined in detail. Resulting from this, an anatomical atlas of this species is provided. Two separate considerations, an evolutionary and an ecomorphological one, are made based on the observed adaptations related to limb loss in this skink. The structure of the girdles shows a particular pattern of reduction: whereas the pelvic girdle is mostly vestigial, the pectoral girdle is instead well developed, with all the elements typical of limbed lizards except for the actual limbs. This led us to hypothesize an asynchronous pattern of limb reduction during the evolution of this species, in which the hindlimbs regressed earlier than the forelimbs. Furthermore, considerations based on overall body morphology, osteology and the structure of the inner ear led to the recognition of this species as a burrowing ecomorph. In contrast to the morphology normally displayed in this ecomorph, O. punctatissimus is characterized by the retention of autotomic vertebrae in its tail. This is consistent with the habitats in which it lives, where active burrowing would be difficult because of the hard, rocky terrain. Instead, this skink hides among rocks on the surface and is, therefore, subject to greater predation risk.
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Lizards ; Reptiles ; CT-scans ; Comparative anatomy ; Inner ear
Published in:	Journal of Anatomy, Vol. 235, Issue 2 (August 2019) , p. 313-345, ISSN 1469-7580

DOI: 10.1111/joa.13017
PMID: 31125128

Postprint 63 p, 3.6 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)
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Articles > Published articles