HIERONYMUS, T.L.*; WITMER, L.M.; Ohio University, Athens; Ohio University, Athens: From armor to anchor: Character evolution of the skin and horns of rhinos Previous reconstructions of extinct rhinocerotid taxa have invoked three separate patterns of nasal horns, but without specifying an explicit and mechanistic relationship between unpreserved soft tissues and available osteological correlates. New data […]

SUMIDA, S.S.*; NORIEGA, K.; FISK, J.; California State Univ. San Bernardino; California State Univ. San Bernardino; Atomic Monkey Digital Modeling: Developing a digital atlas of a centrosaurine ceratopsian dinosaur foot using nearly complete and articulated materials A nearly complete right hind limb of a centrosaurine ceratopsian dinosaur from the Sage Creek Locality of the Late […]

LONGRICH, N. R.; University of Calgary: Aquatic marsupials from the Late Cretaceous of North America Following the end of the Cretaceous, a wide range of mammals became adapted to life in water, but no strong evidence is available for aquatic mammals during the Mesozoic. Recently, a series of unusual, large (1.4-2.6 cm) mammalian caudal vertebrae […]

WEINBAUM, Jonathan; Texas Tech University: A reassessment of the systematics of rauisuchids and poposaurids (Archosauria: Crurotarsi) The systematics of poposaurid and rauisuchid archosaurs is not well understood, particularly in relation to crocodylomorphs. The monophyly of both groups has also been questioned by several authors. Confusion stems in part due to a lack of complete descriptive […]

Meeting Abstract 45.3  Jan. 6  Signal timing by the gray treefrog, Hyla chrysoscelis: responses to conspecific and heterospecific advertisement calls MARSHALL, Vincent T.*; GERHARDT, H. Carl; University of Illinois; University of Missouri marshallvt@life.uiuc.edu Breeding aggregations of acoustically signaling animals often comprise multiple species sharing a common communication channel. Whether and how an individual adjusts the timing of […]

Meeting Abstract 45.4  Jan. 6  Sexual Behavior, Intraspecific Signaling and the Evolution of Mimicry among Closely Related Species ESTRADA, C.**; JIGGINS, C.D.; GILBERT, L.E.; Univ. of Texas, Austin; Univ. of Edinburgh; Univ. of Texas, Austin estradac@mail.utexas.edu Species that enjoy some measure of protection from predators due to their aggressive behavior or toxicity often exhibit warning colorations. When […]

Meeting Abstract 45.2  Jan. 6  Geographic variation in the advertisement call of Hyla arenicolor GERHARDT, H. C.; HUMFELD, S. C.*; MARSHALL, V. T.; University of Missouri-Columbia; University of Missouri-Columbia; University of Illinois humfelds@missouri.edu The canyon treefrog, Hyla arenicolor, is a cryptically colored treefrog that inhabits rocky canyons throughout the southwestern United States and Mexico. Although populations occur […]

Meeting Abstract 45.5  Jan. 6  Frequency of Rattle Use by Free-ranging Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes PLACE, AJ; Northwestern Oklahoma State University ajplace@nwosu.edu The rattle system of rattlesnakes (Genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) is an adaptive suite of morphological, physiological, and behavioral characters. Previous studies have addressed the morphology and physiology of the rattle system. While previous studies have addressed […]

Meeting Abstract 45.1  Jan. 6  Evolution and function of communication signals in Apteronotus KOLODZIEJSKI, Johanna A.*; SMITH, G.T.; Indiana Univ; Indiana Univ hkolodzi@indiana.edu Within the electric fish genus Apteronotus, communication signals known as �chirps� are produced by modulating the frequency and amplitude of an otherwise constant-frequency electric organ discharge (EOD). The number and structure of chirps vary […]

Meeting Abstract 45.6  Jan. 6  Energy and predation costs of firefly courtship signals WOODS, W. A. Jr.*; HENDRICKSON, H.; MASON, J.; LEWIS, S. M.; Tufts University; Tufts University; Tufts University; Tufts University william.woods@tufts.edu A courtship signal may impose more than one cost, and despite the acknowledged theoretical importance of these multiple costs, little is known about their […]