Evolutionary morphology of the rattlesnake style.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The rattlesnake rattling system is an evolutionary novelty that includes anatomical, behavioral, and physiological modifications of the generalized pitviper tail. One such modification, the formation of a bony clublike style at the terminal region of the caudal vertebrae, has not previously been examined in a phylogenetic context. Here we used skeletal material, cleared and stained preparations, and radiographs of whole preserved specimens to examine interspecific variation in style morphology among 34 rattlesnake species.

Results

Evolutionary Principal Components Analysis revealed an inverse relationship between caudal segmental counts and style size, supporting the hypothesis that bone from caudal vertebral elements was reallocated to style formation during the

SUBMITTER: Meik JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2645363 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature