Comparative skull osteology of Amphisbaena arda and Amphisbaena vermicularis (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae)

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The skull anatomy of amphisbaenians directly influences their capacity to burrow and is crucial for the study of their systematics, which ultimately contributes to our comprehension of their evolution and ecology. In this study, we employed three-dimensional X-ray computed tomography to provide a detailed description and comprehensive comparison of the skull anatomy of two amphisbaenian species with similar external morphology, Amphisbaena arda and Amphisbaena vermicularis. Our findings revealed some differences between the species, especially in the sagittal crest of the parietal bone, the ascendant process, and the transverse occipital crest of the occipital complex. We also found intraspecific variation within A. vermicularis, with some specimens displaying morphology that differed from their conspecifics but not from A. arda. The observed intraspecific variation within A. vermicularis cannot be attributed to soil features because all specimens came from the same locality. Specimen size and soil type may play a role in the observed differences between A. arda and A. vermicularis, as the single A. arda specimen is the largest of our sample and soil type and texture differ between the collection sites of the two species.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummere21702
TidsskriftJournal of Morphology
Vol/bind285
Udgave nummer5
Antal sider14
ISSN0362-2525
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2024

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
The authors are grateful to Leonardo S. Carvalho (CHNUFPI), for allowing the international loan of specimens under his care, and by helping authors with all bureaucratic documentation related to the shipment of specimens to Denmark; to Andrej \u010Cer\u0148ansk\u00FD and one anonymous reviewer who provided useful comments and suggestions on the manuscript. The authors are grateful to Angele Martins, Ximena Ovando, Sthefane D'\u00E1vila, Paola Sanch\u00E9z, and the anonymous reviewers, who provided useful comments and suggestions on the manuscript. Christy A. Hipsley and Johannes M\u00FCller were supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG MU 1760/4\u20101). Hussam Zaher was supported by a grant from the FAPESP (2002/13602\u20104, 2011/50146\u20106, 2016/50127\u20105). This study was financed by the Coordena\u00E7\u00E3o de Aperfei\u00E7oamento de Pessoal de N\u00EDvel Superior (CAPES) through a master's scholarship for Carolina L. Paiva\u2014Finance Code 001.

Funding Information:
The authors are grateful to Leonardo S. Carvalho (CHNUFPI), for allowing the international loan of specimens under his care, and by helping authors with all bureaucratic documentation related to the shipment of specimens to Denmark; to Andrej \u010Cer\u0148ansk\u00FD and one anonymous reviewer who provided useful comments and suggestions on the manuscript. The authors are grateful to Angele Martins, Ximena Ovando, Sthefane D'\u00E1vila, Paola Sanch\u00E9z, and the anonymous reviewers, who provided useful comments and suggestions on the manuscript. Christy A. Hipsley and Johannes M\u00FCller were supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG MU 1760/4-1). Hussam Zaher was supported by a grant from the FAPESP (2002/13602-4, 2011/50146-6, 2016/50127-5). This study was financed by the Coordena\u00E7\u00E3o de Aperfei\u00E7oamento de Pessoal de N\u00EDvel Superior\u00A0(CAPES) through a master's scholarship for Carolina L. Paiva\u2014Finance Code 001.

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