Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution最新文献

Contribution of Learning in the Origin of New Niches. How Learning Can Compensate for Climbing Skills in a Non-Specialized Amphibian. 学习对新生态位起源的贡献。学习如何弥补非专业两栖动物攀爬技能的不足。

IF 1.7 3区生物学

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2025-09-01 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23328

Rubén N Muzio, Virginia Abdala, Adriana Manzano, Aldo I Vassallo

{"title":"Contribution of Learning in the Origin of New Niches. How Learning Can Compensate for Climbing Skills in a Non-Specialized Amphibian.","authors":"Rubén N Muzio, Virginia Abdala, Adriana Manzano, Aldo I Vassallo","doi":"10.1002/jez.b.23328","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jez.b.23328","url":null,"abstract":"During the origin of new niches, animals face novel situations and must adapt to access new resources. Innovative individuals may develop strategies and behaviors to take advantage of these resources, although these individuals often lack striking adaptations for the new niche. In these individuals, adequate performance must be achieved, even in cases where behaviors are not typical or usual, which does not necessarily imply optimal performance in terms of energy or speed, but rather the flexibility to choose a different scenario to pursue a biological purpose. Through experience, animals can improve their ability to perform complex movements and adapt to new conditions. We evaluated the existence of additional locomotor skills in a widespread anuran amphibian, Rhinella arenarum. This toad has a terrestrial niche, probably the ancestral condition within the genus. Therefore, it allows us to know the limits of these capacities to execute novel behaviors. Specifically, we analyzed whether the climbing abilities demonstrated by this terrestrial toad can be improved through learning. Adult male and female toads were tested in a climbing device during eight daily sessions. After training, animals improved climbing performance, measured by climbing latency, climbing speed, and stride frequency. The improvement by learning the ability to climb could thus represent an adaptation that allows the exploitation of arboreal niches. Our results indicate that it is possible that innovative individuals who manage to acquire and perfect the ability to climb could expand their range of available niches and, potentially, give rise to new evolutionary lines.","PeriodicalId":15682,"journal":{"name":"Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution","volume":" ","pages":"242-254"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144956527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Skull Ossification in the Andean Toad Rhinella spinulosa (Bufonidae) and the Genetic Model Organism Xenopus tropicalis (Pipidae) Reveals Heterochrony Phenomena and Frontoparietal Suture Modifications. 安第斯蟾蜍（蟾蜍科）和遗传模式生物热带爪蟾（Pipidae）的颅骨骨化揭示了异时现象和额顶骨缝的修改。

IF 1.7 3区生物学

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2024-12-04 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23280

Marco Mundaca, Japhet Rojas, Lefney Cumilaf, Federico Jara, David Muñoz, Luis Pastenes, Marco Méndez, Lina M Tovar, Marcela Torrejón, Germán Montoya-Sanhueza, Sylvain Marcellini

{"title":"Skull Ossification in the Andean Toad Rhinella spinulosa (Bufonidae) and the Genetic Model Organism Xenopus tropicalis (Pipidae) Reveals Heterochrony Phenomena and Frontoparietal Suture Modifications.","authors":"Marco Mundaca, Japhet Rojas, Lefney Cumilaf, Federico Jara, David Muñoz, Luis Pastenes, Marco Méndez, Lina M Tovar, Marcela Torrejón, Germán Montoya-Sanhueza, Sylvain Marcellini","doi":"10.1002/jez.b.23280","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jez.b.23280","url":null,"abstract":"Anurans are famous for having evolved a highly simplified skull through bone loss and fusion events. Nevertheless, their skeleton displays a rich morphological diversity associated with adaptations to diverse lifestyles and ecological niches. Here, we report larval skull ossification in the Andean toad Rhinella spinulosa (Bufonidae), and compare it to the phylogenetically distant genetic model organism Xenopus tropicalis (Pipidae). We find that the ossification timing of most skull bones is conserved between both species, except for the prootic and the angulosplenial that ossify at much later stages in R. spinulosa than X. tropicalis. We propose that a delayed lower jaw ossification in R. spinulosa is tightly related to the more extensive metamorphosis process observed in this species where the ventrally oriented mouth opening shifts anteriorly. We also report two conspicuous notches in the R. spinulosa frontoparietal bone mineralization front which are absent in X. tropicalis, and presumably represent evolutionary remnants of the coronal suture that separates the frontal and parietal bones in most vertebrates. As such notches have not been overtly reported in the literature, we examined the X. tropicalis sibling species Xenopus laevis, and were able to identify similar, albeit transient, indentations in the forming frontoparietal bone, suggesting that vestigial coronal sutures might exist in more frog species than anticipated. Taken together, we show that R. spinulosa represents an ideal organism to study heterochronic shifts and the mechanisms underlying cranial suture loss which drove anuran skull simplification.","PeriodicalId":15682,"journal":{"name":"Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution","volume":" ","pages":"162-171"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142769370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Fractal Dimension of Dental Crowns: An Innovative Method for Age Estimation in Toxodonts. 牙冠分形维数：一种新的牙形齿年龄估计方法。

IF 1.7 3区生物学

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2025-07-16 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23319

Donato Costamagna, Guillermo Cassini, Vanina Cabral, Gabriela I Schmidt, Brenda S Ferrero

{"title":"Fractal Dimension of Dental Crowns: An Innovative Method for Age Estimation in Toxodonts.","authors":"Donato Costamagna, Guillermo Cassini, Vanina Cabral, Gabriela I Schmidt, Brenda S Ferrero","doi":"10.1002/jez.b.23319","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jez.b.23319","url":null,"abstract":"Toxodonts constitute a group of extinct native South American ungulates that have been subject of extensive paleobiological research. Among the traits analyzed, enamel crest complexity (ECC; through fractal dimension) and occlusal surface tooth area (OTA) have recently been studied. However, they have not yet been applied to evaluate differences between ontogenetic stages, (e.g., juveniles, subadults, and adults). Here, we analyzed these traits in the p2-m3 of three species of Toxodontidae, Adinotherium ovinum (n = 8), Nesodon imbricatus (n = 11), and Toxodon platensis (n = 19), along ontogeny by standardized major axis regressions using OTA of m1 as an age proxy, and compared adult and young individuals (i.e., m3 not fully erupted) by Kruskal-Wallis test. Our results showed that ECC decreases with age in all teeth, and p2-m1 seems to share a common slope for Adinotherium and Nesodon. Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant differences between age and species in p3 and molars, with young individuals having higher ECC values than adults. There is a decreasing trend in ECC values from A. ovinum (highest), through N. imbricatus (intermediate), to T. platensis (lowest). These differences are more pronounced from m1 to m3. We conclude that both ECC and OTA can serve as effective tools for differentiating adult toxodonts from those that have not yet reached adulthood. The lower ECC in adult molars may be due to crown simplification during ontogeny, as teeth wear over time by abrasion from food particles during chewing. Conversely, OTA increases in adults as a mixed effect of wear and the larger size of their teeth compared to younger individuals.","PeriodicalId":15682,"journal":{"name":"Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution","volume":" ","pages":"200-213"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144642724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Is There Conservation of Vitellogenins in a Placentotrophic Lizard? 胎盘营养型蜥蜴中卵黄原蛋白是否存在保存？

IF 1.7 3区生物学

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2025-08-17 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23325

Silvia Fernanda Toloza-Esparza, Sergio Marchant, Nathaly Hernández-Díaz, Martha Patricia Ramírez-Pinilla

{"title":"Is There Conservation of Vitellogenins in a Placentotrophic Lizard?","authors":"Silvia Fernanda Toloza-Esparza, Sergio Marchant, Nathaly Hernández-Díaz, Martha Patricia Ramírez-Pinilla","doi":"10.1002/jez.b.23325","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jez.b.23325","url":null,"abstract":"In vertebrates, the provision of nutrients to developing embryos varies widely, ranging from yolk-dependent strategies to highly specialized forms of placental nourishment. Vitellogenins (VTGs) are essential proteins for egg yolk formation in oviparous and lecithotrophic species. In contrast, in eutherian mammals, the loss of VTGs is associated with the evolution of matrotrophy (placentotrophy and lactation), where maternal nutrition via the placenta replaces the need for large yolk reserves during embryonic development. Marisora sp., a placentotrophic viviparous lizard with the most complex placenta known in reptiles, exhibits truncated vitellogenesis, resulting in the production of microlecithal eggs. This study investigated the presence of VTGs in Marisora sp. using RNA-seq from the liver and ovary at previtellogenesis and vitellogenesis stages. No corresponding annotations for VTGs were found. This absence may be associated with the placentotrophic nutrition of the embryo, suggesting modifications in lipid production and transport to the ovarian follicles. Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and microsomal triglyceride transfer proteins (MTP) were identified, which are closely related to VTGs and could fulfill their function, especially ApoB, which is involved in yolk formation in lecithotrophic species in which VTGs are absent. The absence of VTGs in the Marisora sp. transcriptome represents a key discovery in the evolution of obligate placentotrophic viviparity in reptiles, highlighting convergent traits with mammals. Genomic studies are required to determine if changes in VTG genes prevent or modify their expression, and proteomic studies are needed to fully understand the role of other lipid transport proteins in the preovulatory ovarian follicles of these lizards.","PeriodicalId":15682,"journal":{"name":"Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution","volume":" ","pages":"226-241"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144862272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Graph Theory Applications in Morphology: Insights From Argentina. 图论在形态学中的应用：来自阿根廷的见解。

IF 1.7 3区生物学

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-03 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23334

Jessica Fratani, Gabriela Fontanarrosa, Julieta Carril, Ricardo S De Mendoza, Claudia P Tambussi, Daniel Andrés Dos Santos

{"title":"Graph Theory Applications in Morphology: Insights From Argentina.","authors":"Jessica Fratani, Gabriela Fontanarrosa, Julieta Carril, Ricardo S De Mendoza, Claudia P Tambussi, Daniel Andrés Dos Santos","doi":"10.1002/jez.b.23334","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jez.b.23334","url":null,"abstract":"Graph theory offers a conceptual framework for analyzing complex systems, providing complementary insights into the organization, development, and evolution of morphological structures in biological systems. Graphs describe interactions (edges or links) between entities (vertices or nodes) that can be directed or undirected, weighted or unweighted, and cyclic or acyclic. Over the past decade, a growing community of researchers in Argentina, including the authors of this contribution, has applied diverse graph-theoretical approaches to address questions in functional, evolutionary, and developmental morphology. In Latin America, Argentina stands out for incorporating graph theory and new approaches to network analysis into anatomical research. This review highlights the following particular areas where graph theory has been applied: (I) vertex parameters; (II) graph parameters; (III) graph modular organization and hierarchy; (IV) functional interpretations from modularity throughout graph parameters; (V) graph complexity; (VI) adding the temporal dimension to graphs; (VII) Gabriel graph and percolation in geometric networks; (VIII) dual networks; (IX) flow networks and Markov chains. By presenting these applications and original contributions, this work illustrates how graph theory can enrich morphological evo-devo research while reflecting the development of a growing research community in the region.","PeriodicalId":15682,"journal":{"name":"Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution","volume":" ","pages":"282-290"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145438174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Land of Evo-Devo: The 2024 Latin American Developmental Biology Conference in Valparaíso, Chile. Evo-Devo的土地：2024年拉丁美洲发育生物学会议Valparaíso，智利。

IF 1.7 3区生物学

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2025-06-06 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23308

Sayoni Chatterjee, Tetsuya Nakamura

{"title":"Land of Evo-Devo: The 2024 Latin American Developmental Biology Conference in Valparaíso, Chile.","authors":"Sayoni Chatterjee, Tetsuya Nakamura","doi":"10.1002/jez.b.23308","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jez.b.23308","url":null,"abstract":"The 2024 Latin American Developmental Biology Conference, held in Valparaíso, Chile, brought together a dynamic and diverse community of researchers to discuss current advances and prospectives in embryology. With participants from across the Americas and beyond, this extraordinary meeting highlighted the region's growing role in the field. A central theme throughout was the growing need for integrative approaches that connect multiple layers of biological phenomena to explain how form and function emerge during development: in Latin America, applications of genomics, imaging, genetics, and computational modelling to unique biological resource are transforming our understanding of developmental systems. The conference also fostered a highly inclusive and interactive environment with enthusiastic participation from trainees and early-career scientists. Poster sessions, lightning talks, and workshops offered platforms for critical reflection on issues such as challenges in funding, inclusion, and research ethics. Despite political and institutional challenges in the region, the conference showcased the creativity, resilience, and momentum of Latin American scientists, affirming their critical role in directing developmental biology towards the new horizon.","PeriodicalId":15682,"journal":{"name":"Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution","volume":" ","pages":"188-194"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144234250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Heterochronic Changes in Gonadal Differentiation in Pleurodema borellii Tadpoles Under Thyroid Gland Stimulation and Inhibition. 甲状腺刺激和抑制下胸膜水肿蝌蚪性腺分化的异慢性变化。

IF 1.7 3区生物学

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2025-08-10 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23323

Javier Goldberg, Marissa Fabrezi

{"title":"Heterochronic Changes in Gonadal Differentiation in Pleurodema borellii Tadpoles Under Thyroid Gland Stimulation and Inhibition.","authors":"Javier Goldberg, Marissa Fabrezi","doi":"10.1002/jez.b.23323","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jez.b.23323","url":null,"abstract":"Thyroid hormones (THs) are important regulators of somatic development in vertebrates. In anurans, they control critical processes such as early limb differentiation, tail resorption, and tissue and organ restructuring, enabling the transition from aquatic larvae to terrestrial adults. However, their role in gonadal development remains less understood, particularly as gonadal differentiation often occurs independently of larval growth and metamorphic remodeling. In this study, we analyzed the morphogenesis of gonads in Pleurodema borellii, revealing an asynchrony between ovarian and testicular differentiation during larval development. We then evaluated the effects of methimazole (a TH synthesis inhibitor) and thyroxine (T4, an endogenous TH agonist) on gonadal development under mesocosm conditions at different larval stages. Methimazole exposure affected testicular morphogenesis more profoundly during later stages, leading to a disorganized morphology, that is, with poorly defined seminiferous tubules, indistinct cysts of spermatogonia, and scattered germ and somatic cells. Early exposure to T4 affected testicular organization as well, while later exposure accelerated differentiation. In ovaries, the timing of T4 exposure significantly influenced lobulation and ovarian cavity formation, with early exposure exerting greater effects than late exposure. These findings suggest that gonadal differentiation appears to reflect an early sensitivity or response to initial TH signals during premetamorphic stages. Collectively, our results highlight the importance of THs in coordinating early gonadal development, reflecting the complexity of endocrine regulation in amphibian sexual differentiation, likely involving interactions with other hormonal axes such as corticosteroids and sex steroids.","PeriodicalId":15682,"journal":{"name":"Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution","volume":" ","pages":"214-225"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144812077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Biomechanical Properties of Long Bones and Degrees of Morphological Integration Between the Fore and Hindlimbs in Anuran Species With Different Habitat Uses. 不同生境无尾猿物种长骨生物力学特性及前肢和后肢形态整合程度

IF 1.7 3区生物学

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2025-09-04 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23329

Miriam Corina Vera, Jessica Fratani, Gustavo Roberto Cointry, Virginia Abdala

{"title":"Biomechanical Properties of Long Bones and Degrees of Morphological Integration Between the Fore and Hindlimbs in Anuran Species With Different Habitat Uses.","authors":"Miriam Corina Vera, Jessica Fratani, Gustavo Roberto Cointry, Virginia Abdala","doi":"10.1002/jez.b.23329","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jez.b.23329","url":null,"abstract":"The mechanical loads from muscle contraction and gravity affect the biomechanical properties of long-bone limbs, varying according to the functional demands of each limb. In anurans, both limbs are used for locomotion, but the hindlimbs generate higher energy for jumping or swimming, and the forelimbs serve additional purposes (e.g., landing, amplexus, feeding, etc). This study examines the bone architecture of the forelimb bones (humerus and radioulna) and the hindlimb bones (femur, tibiafibula, tibiale, and fibulare) of 24 anuran species with different habitat uses within a phylogenetic context. Also, because of functional divergence among limbs, we investigate possible divergence in morphological integration among long bones depending on habitat use. Across all species, forelimb bones show significantly higher bone biomechanical properties values than hindlimbs, with aquatic and semiaquatic species exhibiting the most resistant bones to bending and fracture. The femur and tibiafibula of aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial species showed similar and higher values, while arboreal species had the lowest values. The tibiale and fibulare bones show a unique stratified pattern across habitats, and in most species, these bones have higher values than the femur and tibiafibula. Although morphological integration varies across habitats-with terrestrial species showing the highest and aquatic and arboreal species the lowest, reflecting differences in limb specialization-the tibiale and fibulare uniquely exhibit significant covariation across all species. While phylogenetic factors may contribute to the observed variability, ecological factors play a crucial role in shaping bone geometry, highlighting the evolutionary adaptations of long bone resistance across ecological niches.","PeriodicalId":15682,"journal":{"name":"Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution","volume":" ","pages":"255-270"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145000716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Adding the "Eco" to the "Evo-Devo": A New Special Issue on Latin America Evo-Devo. 在“Evo-Devo”中增加“Eco”：关于拉丁美洲Evo-Devo的新特刊。

IF 1.7 3区生物学

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution Pub Date : 2026-05-01 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.70022

Eduardo E Zattara, Tetsuya Nakamura, Adriana Manzano

引用次数: 0

Cranial Asymmetry in Hyloidea (Anura, Neobatrachia): Patterns of Morphological Variation. 水螅目（无尾目，新水螅目）颅骨不对称：形态变异模式。

IF 1.7 3区生物学

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-16 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.70018

Carolina Lobo Terán, Jéssica Fratani, María Laura Ponssa

{"title":"Cranial Asymmetry in Hyloidea (Anura, Neobatrachia): Patterns of Morphological Variation.","authors":"Carolina Lobo Terán, Jéssica Fratani, María Laura Ponssa","doi":"10.1002/jez.b.70018","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jez.b.70018","url":null,"abstract":"Asymmetry in a bilateral organism refers to the difference in the expression of a trait between right and left sides, which may result from genetic or environmental disturbances. Using geometric morphometrics and a phylogenetic approach, we studied asymmetry in dorsal and ventral views of the skulls of anuran species, representing 22 families, 16 of which belong to the Hyloidea clade. The cranial regions with the most pronounced shape asymmetry were identified. To discern species with elevated levels of asymmetry and to hypothesize its evolutionary trends across phylogeny we implemented the asymmetry index. Significant asymmetric skull shape variation was found between right and left sides, associated with the upper area of the mandibular joint and the anterior area of the nasals in dorsal view. In ventral view, the greatest variation was in the vomers and the ala of the parasphenoid. The degree of size-related asymmetry varied among species. Character mapping results indicate that cranial asymmetry is a conserved and widespread trait in the Hyloidea clade, representing an ancestral condition across both dorsal and ventral regions of the skull. The observed asymmetries were found in traits that develop later in their ontogeny, which would imply that as they establish fewer developmental dependencies with other traits and, consequently, are less phylogenetically constrained. The asymmetries we found belong to this category and would be more prone to change during evolution.","PeriodicalId":15682,"journal":{"name":"Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution","volume":" ","pages":"291-304"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147468264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0