Meeting Abstract 30.4  Jan. 5  A combined analysis of variation in skull shape and feeding kinematics in five turtle species STAYTON, C.T.; Bucknell University tstayton@bucknell.edu Organismal morphology and kinematics interact to produce complex behaviors; however, morphological and kinematic data have traditionally been analyzed separately using different techniques. Here, I present a joint study of the morphology and […]

Meeting Abstract 30.10  Friday, Jan. 4  Time-scale of spiny-rayed fish (Acanthomorpha, Teleostei). SANTINI, F.*; CARNEVALE, G.; ALFARO, M.A.; University of Toronto; University of Pisa; Washington State University francesco.santini@utoronto.ca With approximately 18000 described species, spiny-rayed fishes (Acanthomorpha) constitute one of the most diverse and successful vertebrate clades. Most fish “model organisms” used in studies of genomics, developmental biology […]

Meeting Abstract 30.4  Friday, Jan. 4  Systematics and evolution of Anachis and related taxa (Neogastropoda: Columbellidae) in the American tropics DEMAINTENON, Marta; Univ. of Hawaii, Hilo demainte@hawaii.edu Columbellid gastropods are one of the more diverse groups of neogastropods in the modern marine biota, comprising over 600 nominal species worldwide. In the American tropics, one group of columbellids, […]

Meeting Abstract 30.5  Friday, Jan. 4  Systematics and diversity of Arhynchobdellida (Oligochaeta: Hirudinida), with a focus on the evolutionary history of bloodfeeding terrestrial leeches BORDA , Elizabeth*; SIDDALL, Mark E.; Auburn University; American Museum of Natural History eborda@amnh.org Arhynchobdellida is characterized by the possession of muscular jaws used for feeding. Arhynchobdellid leeches are found globally in both […]

Meeting Abstract 30.2  Friday, Jan. 4  Phylogenetic relationships within Terebelliformia worms (Polychaeta, Annelida) and evolutionary implications of mitochondrial genomic data ZHONG, M.*; STRUCK, T.H.; HALANYCH, K.M.; Auburn Univ.; Univ. of Osnabr�ck. Germany; Auburn Univ. zhongmi@auburn.edu To further understand the phylogenetic potential of complete mitochondrial genomic data in Annelida (segmented worms), we are exploring evolutionary patterns of mitochondrial […]

Meeting Abstract 30.7  Friday, Jan. 4  Phylogenetic informativeness of nematocyst ultrastructure in Anthozoa REFT, AJ; Ohio State Univ. reft.1@osu.edu Nematocysts, intracellular stinging capsules, are a strong synapomorphy of phylum Cnidaria. The nematocyst, which consists of a capsule and tubule typically with spines, functions in prey capture, defense, and attachment to substrate. Because nematocysts have considerable morphological variation, […]

Meeting Abstract 30.9  Friday, Jan. 4  Molecular phylogeny and evolution of body size in sub-Saharan puddle frogs (Anura: Phrynobatrachidae) ZIMKUS, B.M.*; HANKEN, J.; Harvard University; Harvard University bzimkus@oeb.harvard.edu Miniaturization, or the evolution of decreased adult body size, is well documented within the class Amphibia. Although the effects of miniaturization on amphibian skeletal morphology are well known, including […]

Meeting Abstract 30.3  Friday, Jan. 4  Molecular Phylogenetics of Forcipulate Starfish (Echinodermata) MAH, Christopher*; FOLTZ, David ; NMNH Smithsonian Inst.; Louisiana State Univ. mahch@si.edu The Forcipulatacea is one of three major lineages of crown-group Asteroidea. Forcipulates occur in cold-temperate water settings at depths ranging from the intertidal (eg Pisaster) to the abyss(eg Freyella).Polar faunas are particularly diverse.Although […]

Meeting Abstract 30.1  Friday, Jan. 4  How quickly are eyes lost? A phylogenetic study of deep sea and shallow water cylindroleberidid ostracods. SYME, A.E.**; OAKLEY, T.H.O.; Univ. of California, Santa Barbara; Univ. of California, Santa Barbara anna.syme@gmail.com Animals migrating to the deep sea often lose their eyes over evolutionary timescales. How fast can it happen? And, contrary […]

Meeting Abstract 30.6  Friday, Jan. 4  Evolution of recent squids (Cephalopoda:Decapodiformes) inferrred from molecular data LINDGREN, AR; Ohio State University lindgren.11@osu.edu Cephalopods are an enigmatic group of mollusc consisting of squid, cuttlefish, and octopus which inhabit an array of marine ecosystems. The squid, or Decapodiformes, are of particular interest from an evolutionary standpoint due to their ecological […]