Meeting Abstract 69.2  Friday, Jan. 6  Developmental consequences of association with a photosynthetic substrate for encapsulated embryos of an intertidal gastropod FERNANDES, D. A. O.*; PODOLOSKY, R. D.; College of Charleston; College of Charleston daoriaf@hotmail.com Aggregation of embryos in clutches that lack internal circulation can increase the risk of hypoxia by limiting gas exchange. As a result, […]

Meeting Abstract 69.1  Friday, Jan. 6  Chlorophyll synthesis in the photosynthetic sea slug Elysia clarki MIDDLEBROOKS, M.L.*; PIERCE, S.K.; BELL, S.S.; Univ. of South Florida; Univ. of South Florida; Univ. of South Florida mlmiddle@mail.usf.edu Several species of sacoglossan sea slugs are able to photosynthesize using chloroplasts from the algae they feed upon sequestered inside of their digestive […]

Meeting Abstract 69.3  Friday, Jan. 6  Algal, nuclear-encoded gene sequences are present in the transcriptome of the kleptoplastic sea slug, Elysia chlorotica– Further evidence for horizontal gene transfer CURTIS, N.E.*; FANG, X.; JIANG, X.; SCHWARTZ, J.A.; PIERCE, S.K.; Univ. of South Florida, Tampa; Beijing Genomics Institute-Shenzhen, China; Beijing Genomics Institute-Shenzhen, China; Univ. of South Florida, Tampa; Univ. […]

Meeting Abstract 68.6  Friday, Jan. 6  The origin and early evolution of terrestrial locomotion SWARTZ, Brian; Univ. of California, Berkeley Brian.Darwin@Berkeley.edu The origin of terrestrial vertebrates involved an integrated series of changes to the ancestral sarcopterygian bauplan. However, many traits often considered apomorphic for tetrapods have a much deeper origin in vertebrate history. Terrestrial locomotion integrates many […]

Meeting Abstract 68.4  Friday, Jan. 6  Ontogeny of the alligator cartilago transiliens and its significance for sauropsid jaw muscle evolution TSAI, Henry P; HOLLIDAY, Casey M*; University of Missouri; University of Missouri hollidayca@missouri.edu The cartilago transiliens is a fibrocartilaginous structure within the jaw muscles of crocodylians. The cartilago transiliens slides between the pterygoid buttress and coronoid region […]

Meeting Abstract 68.5  Friday, Jan. 6  Ontogeny and Modularity in the Crocodilian Skull JASZLICS, A.*; PARDO, J. D.; University of Texas at Arlington jaszlics@uta.edu Variation in ontogenetic trajectories plays a critical role in shaping morphological diversity of the vertebrate skull. Crocodilians are a potentially informative group in which to study this phenomenon because they demonstrate a relatively […]

Meeting Abstract 68.1  Friday, Jan. 6  Evolutionary morphology of the caudal musculoskeletal system in syngnathid fish: from swimming to prehension … in different ways ADRIAENS, D.*; NEUTENS, C.; CHRISTIAENS, J.; VAN LOO, D.; DE KEGEL, B.; BOISTEL, R.; VAN HOOREBEKE, L.; Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent University, Belgium; Université […]

Meeting Abstract 67.5  Friday, Jan. 6  How well do orbit dimensions predict diel activity in sciurid rodents? SMITH, S.M.*; ANGIELCZYK, K.D.; SCHMITZ, L.; WANG, S.C.; Johns Hopkins University; Field Museum of Natural History; University of California, Davis; Swarthmore College smsmith383@gmail.com Eye dimensions are good predictors of diel activity patterns because they relate directly to light sensitivity of […]

Meeting Abstract 67.2  Friday, Jan. 6  Functional morphology of the crocodilian and avian integument: Implications for the evolutionary origin of feathers in dinosaurs HOMBERGER, D.G.*; DUBANSKY, B.H.; Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge; Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge zodhomb@lsu.edu The integuments of crocodilians and birds differ fundamentally in their structure. Crocodilian skin resembles fossilized dinosaur skin in having […]

Meeting Abstract 67.4  Friday, Jan. 6  Ecomorphology and Convergence in Arboreal Snakes FIGUEROA, Alex*; LAILVAUX, Simon; University of New Orleans afigueroa21@gmail.com Snakes are characterized by a constrained and specialized body plan, capable of slight modifications and adaptations relative to other vertebrates because they lack external appendages. Nonetheless, morphological differences have evolved among snakes of dissimilar habits. If […]