Meeting Abstract 83.1  Friday, Jan. 7  Evolution of body posture with body size within Varanid lizards (Squamata: Varanidae: Varanus). CLEMENTE, C.J.*; WITHERS, P.C.; THOMPSON, G.; LLOYD, D; Harvard University; University of Western Australia; Edith Cowan University; University of Western Australia clemente@rowland.harvard.edu Geometric scaling predicts that stresses on limb bones and muscles should increase with body size. Mammals […]

Meeting Abstract 83.1  Friday, Jan. 6  Using fractals to describe morphology and ontogeny of lateral line canals of Xiphister (Cottiformes: Stichaeidae), with comparisons to other stichaeids CLARDY, Todd; Virginia Institute of Marine Science tclardy@vims.edu Fishes of the family Stichaeidae, commonly known as pricklebacks, are a diverse group of about 37 genera and 76 species distributed in intertidal […]

Meeting Abstract 83.4  Friday, Jan. 6  Unique Wing Morphology in Wingsnapping Manacus Manakins FRISCIA, A.R.*; SCHLINGER, B.A.; Univ. of California, Los Angeles; Univ. of California, Los Angeles tonyf@ucla.edu Manakins (Manacus spp.) have complex courtship displays with loud, whip-crack-like, wingsnaps and rollsnaps. During wingsnaps, the wings are forcefully lifted over the head to strike at the wrists creating […]

Meeting Abstract 83.2  Friday, Jan. 6  Three-dimensional structure of the shell plate assembly of the chiton Tonicella marmorea and its biomechanical consequences CONNORS, M.J.*; KALLAI, I.; GAZIT, D.; ORTIZ, C.; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Hebrew University; Hebrew University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology connors@mit.edu Chitons are of great interest from a biomechanical perspective because instead of a single […]

Meeting Abstract 83.5  Friday, Jan. 6  The Functional Complexity of the Male American Alligator Phallus MOORE, BC*; MATHAVAN, K; GUILLETTE, LJ; Louisiana Tech University; University of Massachusetts; Medical University of South Carolina bmoore@latech.edu For over a century there have been scientific descriptions of crocodilian phallus morphologies, however little work has presented detailed cellular-level analyses of these structures. […]

Meeting Abstract 83.3  Friday, Jan. 6  High Speed Examination of Pectoral Stridulation Sound Generation in Blue Catfish, Ictalurus furcatus MOHAJER, YJ*; FINE, ML; GHAHRAMANI, ZN; Virginia Commonwealth Univ.; Virginia Commonwealth Univ.; Virginia Commonwealth Univ. mohajeryj@vcu.edu The blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus is an invasive species whose population numbers have exploded in Chesapeake Bay estuaries. Catfishes produce stridulation sounds […]

Meeting Abstract 83.6  Friday, Jan. 6  Functional morphology of penile erection in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis): indirect eversion and elastic retraction KELLY, D.A.; University of Massachusetts, Amherst dianek@psych.umass.edu The intromittent organs of mammals, turtles, snakes and lizards contain variable-volume hydrostatic skeletons that are stored in a flexible state and inflate with fluid before males attempt copulation. […]

Meeting Abstract 83.6  Sunday, Jan. 6  The Gomphoid Synarthrosis: a New Joint in Echinoderms CROCE, H.M.*; TURNER, R.L.; Florida Institute of Technology; Florida Institute of Technology hcroce@my.fit.edu Certain ossicles in crinoid, echinoid, asteroid, and ophiuroid echinoderms have long been thought to fuse. The development of these ossicle systems has not been well studied, often due to obstruction […]

Meeting Abstract 83.3  Sunday, Jan. 6  Optics and evolution of iridescence in the wings of ducks ELIASON, C.M.*; MAIA, R.; SHAWKEY, M.D.; University of Akron; University of Akron; University of Akron cme16@zips.uakron.edu The colors of birds are diverse but limited relative to what they can perceive. This mismatch may be partially caused by the properties of their […]

Meeting Abstract 83.1  Sunday, Jan. 6  Novel muscle and connective tissue design controls engulfment volume in lunge-feeding whales SHADWICK, R.E.*; GOLDBOGEN, J.A.; POTVIN, J.; PYENSON, N.D.; VOGL, A.W.; Univ of British Columbia; Cascadia Res. Collective; St. Louis University; Smithsonian Inst.; Univ. of British Columbia shadwick@zoology.ubc.ca Rorqual whales feed by engulfing and filtering large volumes of water containing […]