Journal of Morphology最新文献

{"title":"The male reproductive cycle of the brown basilisk Basiliscus vittatus (Squamata: Corytophanidae) from Tabasco, Southern Mexico","authors":"José Rodrigo Rivera-López,&nbsp;Aarón Torres-Martínez,&nbsp;Arlette Amalia Hernández-Franyutti,&nbsp;Mari Carmen Uribe,&nbsp;Kevin Gribbins","doi":"10.1002/jmor.21694","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21694","url":null,"abstract":"<p>We used histological and morphometric methods to study the testis and associated glands, including the epididymis, ductus deferens, and renal sexual segment (RSS), of specimens of <i>Basiliscus vittatus</i> sampled from Tabasco, Mexico (17.5926° N, 92.5816° W). Samples were collected throughout 1 year, which included the dry (February to May) and rainy (June to January) seasons. Spermatogenesis in <i>B. vittatus</i> is active throughout the year, but a significant increase in the testicular volume, diameters of seminiferous tubules, height of the germinal epithelium, spermiogenesis, and released spermatozoa occur in the dry season. During the rainy season, all aforementioned parameters decreased except the secretory activity of the epididymis and the RSS, which increased concomitant with an increase of the spermatozoa population within the ductus deferens. These data strongly suggest that <i>B. vittatus</i> reproduce year-round, but males exhibit a peak in spermatogenic activity during the dry season and a peak in insemination and/or copulation at the beginning of the rainy season. We highlight the importance of analyzing not only the testis but also accessory ducts and glands when determining the reproductive cycles of reptiles. The reproductive cycle of <i>B. vittatus</i> is discussed in relation to the environmental conditions of Southern Mexico and is compared to that of other squamates.</p>","PeriodicalId":16528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Morphology","volume":"285 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140552793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The paralobe: A new diagnostic and synapomorphic character for the genera Paulipalpina Gnaspini & Peck, 1996 and Parapaulipalpina Gnaspini, 1996 (Leiodidae: Cholevinae: Ptomaphagini)","authors":"Eduardo C. Gomyde,&nbsp;Bruno A. S. de Medeiros,&nbsp;Pedro Gnaspini","doi":"10.1002/jmor.21693","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21693","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In insect taxa with homogeneous external morphology, genital structures often emerge as essential traits for interspecific differentiation. In the tribe Ptomaphagini (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Cholevinae), precise identification often depends on analyzing the male genital morphology, even at the genus level. Here, we present a new character for diagnosing the genera <i>Paulipalpina</i> Gnaspini &amp; Peck, 1996 and <i>Parapaulipalpina</i> Gnaspini, 1996. This feature, which we dub ‘paralobe’, is a projection arising from the internal surface of the right lobe of the aedeagal apex. Based on its absence in other beetles, including other Ptomaphagini, we recognize it as a putative synapomorphy for those genera. The recognition of this previously overlooked structure adds important information for understanding the sequence of changes that occurred in the male genitalia among the genera of Ptomaphagini.</p>","PeriodicalId":16528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Morphology","volume":"285 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140544557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Placental ontogeny in the Yucca Night Lizard, Xantusia vigilis","authors":"James R. Stewart,&nbsp;William Presch","doi":"10.1002/jmor.21692","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21692","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Squamate placentas support physiological exchange between mothers and embryos. Uterine and embryonic epithelial cells provide sites for transporting mechanisms and extraembryonic membranes provide the scaffolding for embryonic epithelial cells and vascular systems. Diversity in placental structure involves variation in extraembryonic membrane development as well as epithelial cell specializations. Variation in placental ontogeny is known to occur and, although lineage specific patterns have been described, phylogenetic distribution of specific patterns is poorly understood. <i>Xantusia vigilis</i> is a viviparous lizard in a monophyletic clade, Xantusiidae, of predominantly viviparous species. Xantusiidae is one of two viviparous lineages within the clade Scincoidea that provides an important outgroup comparison for Scincidae, which includes the largest number of independent origins of viviparity among Squamata. Previous reports contain brief descriptions of placental structure of <i>X vigilis</i> but the developmental pattern is unknown including relevant details for comparison with skinks. We studied placental ontogeny in <i>X. vigilis</i> to address two hypotheses: (1) the pattern of development of placental architecture is similar to species of Scincidae and, (2) placental epithelial cell specializations are similar to species of Scincidae. The terminal placental stage of <i>X. vigilis</i> is similar to skinks in that it includes a chorioallantoic placenta and an omphaloplacenta. The chorioallantoic placenta is richly vascularized with thin, squamous epithelial cells separating the two vascular systems. This morphology differs from the elaborate epithelial cell specializations as occur in some skink species, but is similar to many species. Epithelial cells of the omphaloplacenta are enlarged, as they are in scincids, yet development of the omphaloplacenta includes a vascular pattern known to occur only in gerrhonotine lizards. Histochemical staining properties of the epithelium of the omphalopleure of the omphaloplacenta indicate the potential for protein transport, a function not previously reported for lizards.</p>","PeriodicalId":16528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Morphology","volume":"285 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140345581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ontogenetic and interelemental study of appendicular bones of Caiman latirostris Daudin, 1802 sheds light on osteohistological variability in crocodylians","authors":"María Eugenia Pereyra,&nbsp;Paula Bona,&nbsp;Pablo Siroski,&nbsp;Anusuya Chinsamy","doi":"10.1002/jmor.21687","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21687","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The osteohistology of vertebrates provides a reliable source to deduce biological information, particularly regarding growth and development. Although osteohistological studies in Neosuchia (Crocodyliformes, Mesoeucrocodylia) are relatively numerous, the number of species studied within the group is still small. Extant crocodilians are known to exhibit intraspecific variability linked to environmental conditions, habitat, feeding, and other intrapopulation factors. Here, we analyzed the osteohistology of the living South American <i>Caiman latirostris</i> throughout posthatching ontogeny. The histology of several appendicular bones of 13 different-sized captive and wild individuals were examined. Although some thin sections revealed the classic lamellar, parallel-fibered, or woven bone matrices, others showed a variation and a mix between the organization of the bone tissue. These histological differences are likely related to variability in the growth dynamics of caimans. In some bones of the juveniles studied, remnants of embryonic bone were observed. Osteohistological variation related to prevailing environmental conditions is documented. Furthermore, our results show ontogenetic variation in the type of bone tissues deposited throughout the development of <i>C. latirostris</i>. This study offers a broad framework for life history interpretations for <i>C. latirostris</i> and provides insight into the evolutionary history and ontogenetic growth of extinct crocodylian lineages.</p>","PeriodicalId":16528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Morphology","volume":"285 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jmor.21687","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140333082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geometric morphometrics casts light on phylogenetic relevance of cephalopod beak morphological","authors":"Chao Wang,&nbsp;Xinjun Chen,&nbsp;Zhou Fang","doi":"10.1002/jmor.21691","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmor.21691","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The feeding organ of cephalopod species, the beak, can be used to reveal important ecological information. In this study, geometric morphometric approaches were employed to investigate the phylogenetic relevance and classification effect of beak lateral profile shape. The two-dimensional beak morphologies of 1164 pairs of 24 species from 13 genera and five families were constructed, and their evolutionary relationships and taxonomic status were confirmed using geometric morphometrics and molecular biology approaches. We also assessed the phylogenetic signals of beak shape. The analysis results show shape variation in the beak mainly in the rostrum, hood, and lateral wall. The overall shape parameters (all PCs) of the upper and lower beak are more useful for species identification. The shapes of the upper and lower beak show a strong phylogenetic signal, and the phenogram based on the beak shape basically reflected the families’ taxonomic positions. We also hypothesized that the shape variation in the beaks of cephalopods may be ascribed to genetic and environmental differences. In summary, beaks are a reliable material for the classification of cephalopod species. Geometric morphometric approaches are a powerful tool to reveal the identification, phylogenetic relevance and phenotypic diversity of beak shape in cephalopods.</p>","PeriodicalId":16528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Morphology","volume":"285 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140329861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prey capture kinematics of horned frogs (Anura: Ceratophryidae)","authors":"Ana Sofía Duport-Bru,&nbsp;Virginia Abdala","doi":"10.1002/jmor.21689","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmor.21689","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Horned frogs, members of the Ceratophryidae family, encompass a group of anurans varying in size and behavior, yet unified by morphological and behavioral traits enabling them to adopt a megalophagous diet (i.e., large prey feeding). Although the group has been the focus of numerous studies, our understanding of its feeding behavior remains limited. In this study, we characterize the feeding mechanism in five species representing the three extant genera of ceratophryid anurans, both in terrestrial and aquatic environments. We also explore the ability of <i>Chacophrys pierottii</i> to adjust feeding behavior based on prey type. Our findings show that all species are capable of wide mouth opening, displaying an asymmetric feeding cycle. While tongue usage is the primary method for capturing prey on land, ceratophryids may use their forelimbs to manipulate prey into their mouths, exhibiting different behavioral patterns. <i>C. pierottii</i> shows modulation of its feeding kinematics and is also capable of some modulation of its feeding in response to prey properties.</p>","PeriodicalId":16528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Morphology","volume":"285 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140318516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patterns of integrated growth of body parts in Rook (Corvus frugilegus) ontogeny","authors":"Oksana V. Shatkovska,&nbsp;Maria Ghazali,&nbsp;Ivan S. Mytiai,&nbsp;Mykola M. Stegney","doi":"10.1002/jmor.21690","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmor.21690","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The early period of ontogeny is key to understanding the patterns of body plan formation in birds. Most studies of avian development have focused on the development of individual avian characters, leaving their developmental integration understudied. We explored the dynamics and integration of relative percentage increments in body mass, lengths of head, skeletal elements of wing and leg, and primary flight feathers in the embryonic and postnatal development of the Rook (<i>Corvus frugilegus</i>). The relative percentage increments were calculated according to Brody's equation. Groups of similar growing traits (modules) were determined using hierarchical cluster analysis, and the degree of correlation between modules was estimated by PLS analysis. The embryonic and postnatal periods demonstrate significant consistency both in the dynamics of changes in relative percentage increments of studied traits as well as in the clustering of individual modules. The modules mainly include the body mass and head length, as well as the elements that form the fore- and hind limbs. Differences were revealed in the combination of modules into clusters in embryonic and postnatal periods. Hind limb elements clustered together with wing elements in the embryonic period but with body mass and the head in the postnatal period. The strongest modularity was noted for the leg in embryogenesis, and for the wing in postnatal development. The forelimb and especially the primary feathers had more distinctive growth patterns. We suggest the changes in the degree of integration between locomotor modules in ontogenesis are connected with the earlier functioning of the legs in the postnatal period and with the preparation of the wings for functioning after a chick leaves the nest.</p>","PeriodicalId":16528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Morphology","volume":"285 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140305955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structure of the oral tentacles of early ontogeny stage in brachiopod Hemithiris psittacea (Rhynchonelliformea, Rhynchonellida)","authors":"Tatyana Valerievna Kuzmina,&nbsp;Elena Nikolaevna Temereva","doi":"10.1002/jmor.21686","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21686","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Brachiopods have the most complex lophophore in comparison with other lophophorates, i.e., phoronids and bryozoans. However, at early ontogenetic stages, brachiopods have a lophophore of simple morphology, which consists of the oral tentacles. Data on the ultrastructure of the oral tentacles is mostly missing. Nonetheless, it has recently been suggested that the structure of oral tentacles is ancestral for all lophophorates in general, and for brachiopods in particular. The fine structure of the oral tentacles in the brachiopod <i>Hemithiris psittacea</i> is studied using light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, cytochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The oral tentacles have a round shape in transverse section, and four ciliary zones, i.e., one frontal, two lateral, and one abfrontal. Latero-frontal sensory cells occur among the frontal epithelium. Four basiepithelial nerves in the ciliary epithelium are colocalized with ciliary zones. Lophophores of simple morphology in phoronids and brachiopods are characterized by non-specified round forms of tentacles. In phoronids and bryozoans, tentacles have additional latero-frontal ciliary zones that function as a sieve during filtration. In most brachiopods, lateral cilia are involved in the capture of food particles, whereas latero-frontal cells are retained in the frontal zone as sensory elements. The oral tentacles of <i>H. psittacea</i> contain a coelomic canal and have distinct frontal and abfrontal longitudinal muscles, which are separated from each other by peritoneal cells. A similar structure of tentacle muscles occurs in all bryozoans, whereas in phoronids, the frontal and abfrontal tentacle muscles are not separated by peritoneal cells. We suggest that the lophophorates' ancestor had tentacles, which were similar to the tentacles of some phoronids with lophophore of simple morphology. We also assume that the structure of the oral tentacles is ancestral for all brachiopods and the specialization of brachiopod tentacles correlates with the appearance of the double row of tentacles.</p>","PeriodicalId":16528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Morphology","volume":"285 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140139253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revision of the muscular system in the brachiopod Novocrania anomala using 3D reconstruction: Functional and paleontological significance","authors":"Feodor A. Plandin,&nbsp;Elena N. Temereva","doi":"10.1002/jmor.21685","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmor.21685","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The musculature is one of the best studied organ systems in brachiopods, being approachable not only by dissecting recent species of brachiopods, but also by exploring muscle scars in fossil material. In the present study, the muscular anatomy of <i>Novocrania anomala</i> is studied using 3D reconstructions based on microcomputed tomography. Muscles of <i>N. anomala</i> may be subdivided into two groups: those related to movements of the lophophore, and those connected to movements of shell valves. Muscles, their morphology and possible functions, such as brachial protractors, elevators, and retractors, as well as anterior adductors, are described and discussed. We also provide the discussion of craniid muscle terminology, consider the valve-opening mechanism. The investigation of muscle scars on dorsal valves supports the conclusion that the shape of muscle scars should be used for description and distinction of recent and extinct species only when visible distinctness cannot be explained by substrate differences. This study, which is aimed at improving our understanding the anatomy and functioning of muscles in craniids, will be useful not only for zoologists, but also for paleontologists.</p>","PeriodicalId":16528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Morphology","volume":"285 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140094231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative three-dimensional jaw muscle anatomy of marsupial carnivores (Dasyurus spp.) and the termite-eating numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)","authors":"Vanessa J. Thomas,&nbsp;Jeremy Shaw,&nbsp;Natasha Tay,&nbsp;Natalie M. Warburton","doi":"10.1002/jmor.21684","DOIUrl":"10.1002/jmor.21684","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Among marsupials, the endangered numbat (<i>Myrmecobius fasciatus</i>) is the only obligate myrmecophage with a diet comprised strictly of termites. Like many other specialised myrmecophagous mammals, numbats have a gracile and highly specialised skull morphology with an elongated rostrum and small braincase. Myrmecobiidae is one of four taxonomic families within the Australasian marsupial order Dasyuromorphia, and to date, the muscular anatomy of any member of this group is relatively poorly known. We utilised microdissection and contrast-enhanced microcomputed tomography scanning to provide the first comprehensive qualitative and quantitative descriptions of jaw muscle anatomy in numbats and quolls (<i>Dasuyrus</i> species). The arrangement of the jaw muscles across these species was conservative, both in gross anatomy and muscle proportions, corresponding to a ‘generalised’ mammalian pattern. In contrast to <i>Dasyurus</i>, the jaw muscles of the numbat were greatly reduced. Many aspects of the muscle anatomy of the numbat were similar to patterns reported in other myrmecophagous species, particularly a greatly reduced temporalis muscle. Unusually, the digastric muscle in the numbat was comprised of a single, large anterior belly while the posterior belly was absent. We propose that the enlarged anterior belly of the digastric may be linked to jaw stabilisation and coordination of tongue movements during feeding. The lateral insertion and fascial connection of the digastric to the tongue in numbats may also aid in distributing stress evenly across the jaw and minimise muscle fatigue. The muscle descriptions and three-dimensional models provided in this study will facilitate further analysis of musculoskeletal adaptation and evolution within the Dasyuromorphia.</p>","PeriodicalId":16528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Morphology","volume":"285 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jmor.21684","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140028252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}