Palate anatomy and morphofunctional aspects of interpterygoid vacuities in temnospondyl cranial evolution.

ABSTRACT: Temnospondyls were the morphologically and taxonomically most diverse group of early tetrapods with a near-global distribution during the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic. Members of this group occupied a range of different habitats (aquatic, amphibious, terrestrial), reflected by large morphological disparity of the cranium throughout their evolutionary history. A diagnostic feature of temnospondyls is the presence of an open palate with large interpterygoid vacuities, in contrast to the closed palate of most other early tetrapods and their fish-like relatives. Although the function of the interpterygoid vacuities has been discussed in the past, no quantitative studies have been performed to assess their biomechanical significance. Here, we applied finite element analysis, to test the possibility

SUBMITTER: Lautenschlager S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5023724 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature