MCKENNA, M. F.; CRANFORD, T.W.; BERTA, A.; San Diego State University; San Diego State University; San Diego State University: Defining the odontocete melon: Comparisons using Morphometric Analysis The term �melon� refers to unique lipid soft-tissue structure in all toothed whale foreheads. A large body of evidence suggests that the melon is functionally important in bio-sonar […]

LESOWAY, M.P.*; PAGE, L.R.; University of Victoria, Canada; University of Victoria, Canada: Comparing gastropods during delay of metamorphosis The evolutionary origins of feeding in spiralian larvae are controversial. Despite contradictory claims regarding single or multiple origins of larval feeding, there have been few detailed morphological studies to provide evidence for either argument. Recent phylogenetic work […]

SEDLMAYR, J; REHOREK, S; LEGENZOFF, E; SANJUR, J; Univ. of Ca., Los Angeles; Slippery Rock Univ.; Slippery Rock Univ.; Slippery Rock Univ.: Circadian Endocrinological Network in Archosauria The Amniote Head Project is devoted to the examination of various cephalic structures and systems within the framework of a comparative study of basal and highly derived taxa […]

SEARS, K.E.*; BEHRINGER, R.R.; NISWANDER, L.A.; University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; University of Colorado Health Sciences Center: The morphologic and genetic evolution of bat wing digits Bats suddenly appear in the fossil record about 50 million years ago. The earliest bats resemble their modern counterparts in possessing the anatomical hallmarks […]

HANDRIGAN, G. R.; WASSERSUG, R. J.; Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada: The case of the anuran backbone: Missing vertebrae and genetic culprits Nearly all anuran (frog and toad) species have less than a dozen discrete vertebral elements, some as few as 8. They are thus the vertebrates with the least vertebrae. Paradoxically, anuran vertebrae arise from […]

SANTINI, F; Museum Nationalle d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris: Fish fins, morphological modularity and evo-devo Ocean sunfishes (molas) are a small clade of pelagic fishes, closely related to pufferfishes. Molas are very active swimmers, in spite of the fact that they lack the spiny dorsal fin, the pelvic fins and possess a very modified structure (the psudocaudal […]

GALIS, F.; METZ, J.A.J.; Leiden University; idem: Developmental Mechanisms underlying the Conservation of the seven cervical Vertebrae The number of cervical vertebrae is extremely conserved in mammals. Yet, studies on fetal deaths in humans show that new mutants with an effect on this number are common. This indicates that evolutionary conservation is caused by strong […]

HALLGRIMSSON, Benedikt; BROWN, Jevon J.Y.; FORD-HTCHINSON, Alice F.; JIRIK, Frank R.; University of Calgary; University of Calgary; University of Calgary; University of Calgary: CANALIZATION AND MORPHOLOGICAL INTEGRATION OF CRANIOFACIAL MORPHOLOGY IN BRACHYMORPH MICE AS ASSESSED BY COMPUTED MICROTOMOGRAPHY Although it is well recognized that many different mutations potentially influence phenotypic variability as well as the […]

YOUNG, Nathan M.; HALLGRIMSSON, Benedikt; University of Calgary; University of Calgary: A Comparison of Patterns of Forelimb and Hindlimb Covariation in Mammals Within mammals there is remarkable structural diversity in limb morphology, with a variety of functional relationships between and within hind and forelimb elements. Improved understanding of the developmental genetic basis of fore- and […]

FINKLER, M.S.*; GILLEM, A.D.; Indiana Univ. Kokomo; Indiana Univ. Kokomo: Sex-related differences in stored energy reserves in spring-breeding hylid frogs The energetic cost of reproduction may be considerably higher for females than for males, not only because of a difference in the amount of energy invested in the gametes but from indirect costs associated with […]