Extreme Anatomy: Gear for the Pioneer

Abstract

This special issue of The Anatomical Record explores extravagant adaptions that vertebrates have evolved from their base groups to survive in the most challenging environments. The special issue stems from a symposium entitled "Extreme Anatomy: Living beyond the edge," which was held April 23, 2017, at the annual meeting of the American Association of Anatomists, (now called the American Association for Anatomy), in Chicago, IL. In part 1 of this issue, we encounter fossorial mammals and cave-dwelling fish and salamanders that have reduced visual systems accompanied by a variety of mechanosensory adaptations. In rivers and seas, teeth may not suffice in the pursuit of prey: aquatic vertebrates are adorned with armor or weaponry or elaborate keratinous sieves. As vertebrates exploit a great diversity of niches, selection has favored a dizzying array of specialized sensory and locomotor adaptions for deep diving, rapid flight, and navigation through dark and complex settings. Each special adaptation, some seemingly quite "extreme" deviations from an original Bauplan, becomes a tool for a pioneer-like diversification of vertebrates. Anat Rec, 303:10-14, 2020.

Bats of all types fly through the pages of The Anatomical Record in a novel special issue

“…Besides, the many scientific reports that he has published in The Anatomical Record , Tim has also been a creative engine behind some of our most extraordinary Special Issues, such as those: exploring new models and approaches exploring primate functional anatomy and biomechanics (Laitman, 2010; Laitman & Albertine, 2010; Organ et al, 2010) (his Special Issue cover is J L's favorite! ); the novel issue exploring the world of the vertebrate nose (Laitman, 2014; Laitman & Albertine, 2014; van Valkenburgh et al, 2014); the incomparable, two volume Special Issue exploring nature's “extreme species” (Laitman & Albertine, 2020a, 2020b; Smith & Laitman, 2020a, 2020b) (maybe these covers are J L's favorites); or fido's all‐time favorite, the issue delving into the anatomy and history of the domestic dog (Laitman, 2021; Laitman & Albertine, 2021; Smith & van Valkenburgh, 2021) (ok, maybe this cover is J L's favorite cover!) Suffice it to say that The Anatomical Record has been graced with both the science and scholarship and creativity that our Tim has brought to its pages.…”

A human's best friend comes to The Anatomical Record: A special issue explores the world of the dog

“…As anyone who has worked with Tim will attest to, he is a tinderbox of creative, often novel, questions and ideas that push the limits of our current understandings. Along these lines can be seen his recent special issues of The Anatomical Record exploring the extremes of anatomical and behavioral forms in the animal world (Laitman & Albertine, 2020a, 2020b; Smith & Laitman, 2020a, 2020b). Receiving a call from Tim would invariably contain the phrase “…hey, I was thinking, could we do an issue on….” And we would be off on a new adventure, exploring monkeys swinging from trees, the world of naked mole rats, the demise of Gigantopithecus …or, the unique relationships between humans and our canine kin.…”

The Anatomical Record Uncovers Nature's Extreme Species and How They Have Survived in a Novel Two‐Volume Special Issue

“…Or survive and prosper, as some have for many millennia. Which, how, where, and why some species defy many of nature's rules and survive, and even flourish, is at the core of this Special Issue on “Extreme Anatomy” (Smith and Laitman, , this issue). The Issue explores both the seminal questions of “What is extreme?” and “Who can fit into this classification?” The volumes (there are two because there are many species to cover) are Guest Edited by Timothy Smith of Slippery Rock University with one/half of the dynamic duo of this editorial, JL, of Mount Sinai.…”