Comparative cranial osteology of<i>Blanus</i>(Squamata: Amphisbaenia)

Villa, Andrea; Kirchner, Martin; Alba, David M.; Bernardini, Federico; Bolet, Arnau; Luján, Àngel H.; Fortuny, Josep; Hipsley, Christy A.; Müller, Johannes; Sindaco, Roberto; Tuniz, Claudio; Delfino, Massimo

doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zly082

Cited by 15 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…In lateral view, Z. quadrifrons exhibits the typical "round-head" condition, with the nasal and premaxillary curves defining the blunt snout. The general shape of the skull of Z. quadrifrons resembles that of A. alba and the species of Blanus (Villa et al, 2019), but contrasts sharply with the "spade-headed" and "shovel-headed" morphologies of D. zarudnyi and R. hatcherii, respectively (Kearney et al, 2005;Maisano et al, 2006), and the sharply angled snout of S. fossorium (Müller, Hipsley, and Maisano, 2016).…”

Section: Overview Of Skullmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…To facilitate comparison with species previously described from CT data, we describe the skull in the same fashion as was done for D. zarudnyi (Maisano et al, 2006) and R. hatcherii (Kearney et al, 2005) and we adopt the same three sections for the description, addressing the facial elements, the cranial elements, and the mandible. We also compared our material with the descriptions provided by Müller, Hipsley, and Maisano (2016) for S. fossorium, and by Villa et al (2019) for Blanus.…”

Section: Overview Of Skullmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cranial anatomy of the “round‐headed”AmphisbaenianZygaspis quadrifrons(Squamata, Amphisbaenia) based on high‐resolution x‐ray computed tomography

Bell,

Cadena,

Meza

et al. 2023

The Anatomical Record

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Amphisbaenians are a poorly understood clade of fossorial lizards. Because of their derived anatomy and relative scarcity, the systematics of the clade and its placement within squamates has long been controversial. Traditional approaches grouped species into four assemblages according to burrowing behavior and cranial morphology, resulting in the recognition of “shovel‐headed,” “round‐headed,” “keel‐headed,” and “spade‐headed” morphotypes. Recent phylogenetic analyses do not support the monophyly of the taxa that share those morphotypes. Detailed analyses of cranial osteology were previously accomplished using high‐resolution x‐ray computed tomography (HRXCT) for the “shovel‐headed” Rhineura hatcherii (Rhineruidae) and the “spade‐headed” Diplometopon zarudnyi (Trogonophidae). A detailed description of the “round‐headed” Amphisbaena alba was previously completed based upon traditional “dry” skeletal specimens. Seven species of the “round‐headed” Blanus (Blanidae) were also analyzed using HRXCT. The goal of that project was a comparative analysis of all extant species of Blanus rather than a detailed, bone‐by‐bone description of one species, but certainly is useful for comparison with another “round‐headed” taxon. The “round‐headed” morphotype is by far the most common among amphisbaenians and is much in need of further documentation. We use HRXCT imagery to provide additional data about the disparity in cranial morphology among amphisbaenians. Those data allow us to provide another detailed description of a “round‐headed” amphisbaenian, the poorly known southern African species Zygaspis quadrifrons. HRXCT is ideal for this relatively rare and diminutive species. We are able to visualize and describe a detailed reconstruction of the entire skull as well as individual cranial elements. Comparisons with other species that were described in similar detail—D. zarudnyi, Spathorhynchus fossorium, R. hatcherii, and A. alba—and to a lesser degree with Blanus, reveal a complex mosaic of morphological features of the skull in Zygaspis. Preliminary data suggest that intraspecific variation is present within Z. quadrifrons, and interspecific variation among other species of Zygaspis may be sufficient for species‐level recognition based on cranial osteology. Our description is, therefore, also intended to serve as a baseline for comparative analysis of other specimens of Z. quadrifrons and of other species within the genus.

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Section: Overview Of Skullmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Overview Of Skullmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cranial anatomy of the “round‐headed”AmphisbaenianZygaspis quadrifrons(Squamata, Amphisbaenia) based on high‐resolution x‐ray computed tomography

Bell,

Cadena,

Meza

et al. 2023

The Anatomical Record

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“…Given that amphisbaenians are often treated together with lizards in palaeontological works, we included also data on European amphisbaenians (genus Blanus) in the key. These data come from the comparative description of the Blanus skull by Villa et al (2018b), to which the reader is referred for diagnostic differences that possibly allow to discriminate between the different species of the genus. Similarly, the reader is referred to the work of Villa et al (2018a) for a detailed key of European gekkotans skull bones.…”

Section: Diagnostic Keymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The single significant change is observed in the amphisbaenians, due to the fact that the three European Blanus species are distinguishable based on the different development of a ridge present on the inner side of the quadrate (Villa et al, 2018b). Other skull elements still bear no clear diagnostic features allowing to discriminate between the different species of European worm lizards, and only the premaxilla can be used to recognise the Western Group from the B. strauchi complex (Villa et al, 2018b). Moreover, Smith et al (2016) described some osteological features useful to distinguish L. stellio and C. chamaeleon from some other closely related agamids and chamalaeonids respectively.…”

Section: Diagnostic Keymentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparative atlas of the skull osteology of European lizards (Reptilia: Squamata)

Villa

Delfino

2019

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

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The fossil record provides evidence of a long evolutionary history of European lizards. Since fossil lizards are regularly represented by bone remains, the knowledge of the origins of extant taxa and their distribution in time and space is hindered by the fact that their comparative osteology is not yet completely and adequately known. In spite of a rising interest in this topic since the end of the 20th century, a gap in our knowledge is still evident. We here report the first broad-scale comparative osteological analysis of the skulls of extant European lizards, highlighting significant differences that can be used in identification. This comparative study, including as many European species as possible, leads to the creation of a detailed diagnostic key for each single bone. Also, our data significantly improve the recognizability of extant European non-snake squamates, with 54% of the current diversity to be recognized based on the new results contra the previously estimated 31%. This recognizability is expected to further increase in the future, with new studies focusing on species that are either missing or poorly represented here, or applying promising advanced methodologies.

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“…In phylogenetic analyses including isolated fossils, missing data are a serious nuisance when large morphological datasets are used (e.g. Scotland et al 2003;Sansom and Wills 2013;Augé and Guével 2018, Villa et al 2018a, 2018b. Missing data cause taxa to drift down trees from their original position (Sansom 2015) and Guillerme and Cooper 2016 state that the ability to recover the "best" tree decreases as the number of missing data increase.…”

Section: Phylogenetic Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Transient presence of a teiid lizard in the European Eocene suggests transatlantic dispersal and rapid extinction

Augé

Brizuela

2020

Palaeobio Palaeoenv

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Several teiid specimens (frontal, vertebra, maxillae) are described from the late Eocene of Europe (MP17, Phosphorites du Quercy). The results of phylogenetic analyses confirm that these European Eocene fossils belong to teiid lizards and more specifically to the subfamily Tupinambinae. So far, the Paleogene record of teiids is limited to South America and no occurrence of crown teiids is known in Europe. This disjunct distribution of teiids during the Eocene suggests transatlantic dispersal and this possibility is discussed. The presence of teiids in the European fossil record is brief (limited to standard level MP17). The circumstances that prevented the persistence of an invading clade in Europe are examined. Ecological (e.g. biotic interactions) and/or demographic (Allee effect) processes may have been involved.

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Comparative cranial osteology ofBlanus(Squamata: Amphisbaenia)

Cited by 15 publications

References 37 publications

Cranial anatomy of the “round‐headed”AmphisbaenianZygaspis quadrifrons(Squamata, Amphisbaenia) based on high‐resolution x‐ray computed tomography

Cranial anatomy of the “round‐headed”AmphisbaenianZygaspis quadrifrons(Squamata, Amphisbaenia) based on high‐resolution x‐ray computed tomography

A comparative atlas of the skull osteology of European lizards (Reptilia: Squamata)

Transient presence of a teiid lizard in the European Eocene suggests transatlantic dispersal and rapid extinction

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