A functional consideration of cranial kinesis in lizards

A Sensitivity Analysis to the Role of the Fronto‐Parietal Suture in Lacerta Bilineata: A Preliminary Finite Element Study

“…It is widely considered to have a major evolutionary and ontogenetic role as a structural element during growth and development (Frazzetta, 1962;Smith and Hylander, 1985;Herrel et al, 2000;Metzger, 2002). Shape analyses revealed relevant patterns of morphological variation associated with this suture, related to allometric changes (Bruner and Costantini, 2009).…”

“…Understanding form and function of the FP region has been of interest among functional morphologists (Frazzetta, 1962;Smith and Hylander, 1985;Herrel et al, 2000;Evans, 2008). It could potentially shed light on the evolution of cranial kinesis (Metzger, 2002) and the upper temporal fenestra (Carrol, 1982;Evans, 2003;Curtis et al, 2011).…”

“…However, the role and function of sutures in the adult skull has been the subject of debate among functional morphologists and palaeontologists. In fact, in a lot of taxa, many sutures do not fuse after the growth and developmental processes have effectively terminated, and the possible biomechanical roles of these elements during ontogeny and phylogeny are still not fully understood (Frazzetta, 1962;Herring, 1972;De Vree and Gans, 1987;Jaslow, 1990;Thomson, 1995;Herrel et al, 2000;Mao, 2002;Evans, 2003;Rayfield, 2005b;Markey et al, 2006;Daza et al, 2008;Moreno et al, 2008;Hipsley et al, 2009;Jasinoski et al, 2009Jasinoski et al, , 2010Moazen et al, 2009a,b;Wang et al, 2010Wang et al, , 2012Reed et al, 2011;Jones et al, 2011). Micromovement at sutures may potentially lead to a uniform pattern of load distribution across the skull.…”

The Relationship Between Cephalic Scales and Bones in Lizards: A Preliminary Microtomographic Survey on Three Lacertid Species

“…Although the vault becomes larger, there is a change in the proportions of the anterior and posterior parts of the fronto-parietal scale: the first increases in length and the second decreases in width. The fronto-parietal scale covers the fronto-parietal suture, which is considered a relevant biomechanical structure for the kinetic organization of the lacertid skull (Frazzetta, 1962). In the species examined in this study, the level of interdigitation at this suture could limit kinetic movements of the skull.…”

“…It is widely accepted that the level of interdigitation of fronto-parietal suture may play a pivotal role in the relative movement between the frontal and parietal and this varies between Squamata. The species studied here (L. bilineata, P. muralis and P. sicula) show a high degree of interdigitation across this suture, and such interdigitation should constrain micro-movements across this joint (see also Frazzetta, 1962;Barahona and Barbadillo, 1998), which can play an important role in releasing the strain generated during biting in this region to protect the braincase (e.g., De Vree and Gans, 1987;Moazen et al, 2009). …”