Zoology最新文献

{"title":"Morphology of the circulatory system in Caobangia billeti Giard, 1893 (Annelida, Sabellidae)","authors":"Varvara I. Krolenko ,&nbsp;Glafira D. Kolbasova ,&nbsp;Alexander B. Tzetlin","doi":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126272","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126272","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Caobangia billeti</em> is an aberrant shell-burrowing annelid with a phoronid-like body plan and U-shaped digestive tract, an anterior anus on the dorsal side near the head, and reduced metamerism. The segmental dissepiments in <em>C. billeti</em> are absent, but the circulatory system is complex and consists of numerous lacunae and vessels. We asked the question how this modified circulatory system compares to that of other Sabellida. To that end, we collected <em>C. billeti</em> from the type locality and for the first time provide a detailed morphological investigation of these worms using both electron (TEM) and light microscopy. Our data show that, despite the significant modification of the body plan, the circulatory system is generally similar to that of other Sabellida representatives. The central circulatory system includes dorsal and ventral vessels, circular segmental vessels, and the peri-intestinal sinus, while the peripheral system includes the vessels of the branchial crown, collar vessels and esophageal plexuses, and transseptal vessels. However, compared to other representatives of the order Sabellida this species possesses four paired lateroventral vessels instead of two, and extravasal rather than intravasal hematopoietic tissue. The abdomen of <em>C. billeti</em> has lost all internal metameric structures, except segmental vessels, the number of which coincides with the number of uncinial tori. The direction of blood flow was reconstructed using vital and morphological observations. There are no specialized propulsatory organs, but all vessels pulsate, except for the branchial vessels, which are passively filled with blood. In the circulatory system, the direction of blood flow can be reversed (from the head to the back of the body inside the dorsal vessel and vice versa ventrally), which has not previously been described for other Sabellida.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49330,"journal":{"name":"Zoology","volume":"171 ","pages":"Article 126272"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144071494","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}

{"title":"Thermal energetics of bats of the family Vespertilionidae: An evolutionary approach","authors":"Jorge Ayala-Berdon ,&nbsp;Kevin I. Medina-Bello ,&nbsp;Jorge D. Carballo-Morales ,&nbsp;Romeo A. Saldaña-Vázquez ,&nbsp;Federico Villalobos","doi":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermal energetics define the way animals spend energy for thermoregulation. In this regard, numerous studies have determined that body mass (<em>M</em>_<em>b</em>) is the most influential morphological trait affecting the thermal traits in different species of birds and mammals. However, most of the studies have been focused on the basal metabolic rate (<em>BMR</em>), while other thermal traits have been less studied. We addressed this gap by examining thermal variables on bats of the family Vespertilionidae. Using open-flow respirometry, we measured <em>BMR</em>, absolute thermal conductance (<em>C</em>’), lower and upper critical temperatures (<em>T</em>_<em>LC</em> and <em>T</em>_<em>UC</em>), and breadth of the thermoneutral zone (<em>TNZ</em>_<em>b</em>) of 16 bat species ranging in <em>M</em>_<em>b</em> from ∼ 4.0–21.0 g from central Mexico. We: 1) combined our empirical data with information gathered from the literature and conducted phylogenetic analyses to investigate the relationship between <em>M</em>_<em>b</em> and thermal traits, 2) tested the relationship between mass independent <em>C</em>’ and mass independent <em>BMR</em> with <em>T</em>_<em>LC</em> and <em>T</em>_<em>UC</em> of bats, and the relationship between critical temperatures and <em>TNZ</em>_<em>b</em>, and 3) mapped the thermal energetic traits along the phylogeny to explore their evolutionary trends. We found a positive relationship between <em>M</em>_<em>b</em> and <em>BMR</em> and absolute <em>C’</em> but not to <em>T</em>_<em>LC</em>, <em>T</em>_<em>UC</em> and <em>TNZ</em>_<em>b</em> of bats. Mass independent <em>BMR</em> and mass independent <em>C</em>’ were positively related to <em>T</em>_<em>LC</em> and <em>T</em>_<em>UC</em>. Finally, <em>T</em>_<em>LC</em> showed a negative relationship with <em>TNZ</em>_<em>b</em> while <em>T</em>_<em>UC</em> exhibited a positive relationship with this thermal trait. The phylogenetic approach indicates that over the evolutionary history, <em>BMR</em> and <em>C´</em> have decreased while <em>T</em>_<em>LC</em>, <em>T</em>_<em>UC</em> and <em>TNZ</em>_<em>b</em> have increased. Our results suggest that: 1) differences in the limits of the <em>TNZ</em> and <em>C’</em> may have helped bats to avoid the constraints on heat dissipation imposed by ambient temperatures, and 2) adaptive changes in <em>M</em>_<em>b</em> and thermal traits may have influenced the geographical distribution and energy-saving strategies of bats. These findings contribute to an understanding of how small endotherms cope with thermal challenges, shedding light on the physiological and evolutionary mechanisms that shape species’ ecological niches and biogeographic patterns across diverse environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49330,"journal":{"name":"Zoology","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 126271"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143935840","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}

{"title":"Embryonic behavior and skeletogenesis in developing skate Okamejei kenojei","authors":"Guang Gao ,&nbsp;Bingxin Guan ,&nbsp;Guangbin Shao ,&nbsp;Jiawei Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhizhong Xiao ,&nbsp;Kun Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126270","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126270","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cartilaginous fishes (sharks, skates and chimaeras) exhibit diverse behavioral patterns and unique endoskeleton, which provide insights into their ecological adaptations and evolution. However, research on the development of cartilaginous fish is still limited. To evaluate the relationship between embryonic behavior and cartilage development in cartilaginous fishes, the developing <em>Okamejei kenojei</em> was analyzed through behavioral, anatomical, and histological approaches, with an atlas of embryonic behavior and skeletal morphology. The result shows that the behavior of skate embryos evolves from early rhythmic movements to vigilance behavior to external stimuli. Data from Alcian blue and Alizarin red staining and histology sections showed that the vertebrae are the earliest regions to mineralize, with the mineralization process starting at the neural arch area and expanding along the body axis. In the anterior area, mineralized structures spread along the synarcual and neurocranium towards the pectoral fins and fin rays. Interestingly, a novel branching pattern of fin rays was observed in the pectoral fins of embryonic <em>O. kenojei</em>, characterized by the inward growth of the perichondrium into the cartilage element, potentially linked to the morphogenesis of the skate's pectoral fins. Additionally, this study provides a set of open-source morphological data for <em>O. kenojei</em>, which will serve as a valuable reference for marine animal conservation and evolutionary developmental biology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49330,"journal":{"name":"Zoology","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 126270"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948390","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}

{"title":"Cytogenetic insights into Sosippinae (Araneae, Lycosidae) reveal pronounced diploid number reduction in Aglaoctenus and elevated number of rDNA loci in two unrelated species","authors":"Mariana Bessa Sanches ,&nbsp;Lucas Henrique Bonfim Souza ,&nbsp;Bruno Cansanção Silva ,&nbsp;Conrado Mario da Rosa ,&nbsp;Antonio Domingos Brescovit ,&nbsp;Luciana Bolsoni Lourenço ,&nbsp;Douglas Araujo","doi":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126269","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126269","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Spiders represent a fascinating group for studying chromosomal evolution due to their dynamic karyotypes, which reveal significant differences even between closely related taxa. Lycosidae, one of the most species-rich families of spiders, has its major relationships well stablished, though minor interspecific relationships remain poorly understood. Here, we analyzed chromosomal data from four species belonging to <em>Aglaoctenus</em> and <em>Diapontia</em>, two genera within the subfamily Sosippinae, to discuss the evolution of chromosomal traits within this lineage. For karyological analysis, we employed Giemsa staining, C-banding, Ag-NOR staining, and 28S rDNA FISH to identify key chromosomal characteristics and the distribution of repetitive elements. Both <em>A. oblongus</em> and <em>D. uruguayensis</em> exhibited 2n♂=28, X₁X₂, with acro/telocentric morphology, hypothesized to represent the ancestral condition for Lycosoidea. However, regarding the 28S rDNA chromosome mapping, these species revealed an unusually high number of loci with eight chromosome clusters in <em>A. oblongus</em> and a polymorphic condition in <em>D. uruguayensis</em> (10–14 signals), underscoring the utility of additional techniques for detecting specific chromosomal regions. Interestingly, <em>A. castaneus</em> and <em>A. lagotis</em> displayed a more derived karyotype, characterized by 2 n♂= 14, X₁X₂ and acro/telocentric morphology, with the sex chromosomes (X₁ and X₂) smaller than the autosomes. Taken together, these data suggest that, following the diversification of <em>Aglaoctenus</em>, a significant reduction in diploid number occurred, affecting only the autosomes. These findings encourage further cytogenetic research within Sosippinae and support the use of these data in future phylogenetic studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49330,"journal":{"name":"Zoology","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 126269"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143860384","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}

{"title":"Back to the water II: Variation in eye and cranial morphology in Telmatobius frogs with different lifestyles","authors":"J. Sebastián Barrionuevo","doi":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126267","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126267","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Several tetrapod lineages have independently evolved an aquatic lifestyle, driving structural and functional modifications. Changes in eye size and position are key trends in this transition. While most frogs and toads have aquatic larvae, the majority of adults are terrestrial. In contrast, <em>Telmatobius</em> frogs exhibit a unique spectrum from semiaquatic to strictly aquatic lifestyles, linked to the colonization of the Andean highlands. This study examines variation in eye size, position, and cranial proportions, in two species: the semi-aquatic <em>Telmatobius oxycephalus</em> and the strictly aquatic <em>T. rubigo</em>. Measurements across post-metamorphic stages were used to compare groups and assess allometric patterns. <em>Telmatobius rubigo</em>, which inhabits high altitudes, has smaller eyes and a more dorsal/frontal eye position than <em>T. oxycephalus</em>. Among <em>T. oxycephalus</em>, the forest population at lower elevations has larger eyes compared to valley counterparts at intermediate altitudes. Cranial analysis reveals that <em>T. rubigo</em> has smaller orbits and larger otic capsules, while <em>T. oxycephalus</em> shows the opposite pattern. These findings suggest that smaller eye size and more frontal/dorsal positioning evolved in response to the aquatic lifestyle at high elevations. This pattern parallels that of highly aquatic pipid frogs, which adapted to aquatic habitats during the Cretaceous. In contrast, <em>Telmatobius</em> specialization for aquatic environments is relatively recent and associated with Andean colonization, providing a unique opportunity to study an adaptive radiation within a modern evolutionary context.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49330,"journal":{"name":"Zoology","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 126267"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143874563","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}

{"title":"Impacts of competition on juveniles of two sympatric freshwater prawn species from Pampean ecosystems: Palaemon argentinus and Macrobrachium borellii","authors":"María Eugenia Scardamaglia,&nbsp;Karine Delevati Colpo","doi":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Competition is an interaction between individuals, either of the same species (intraspecific) or different species (interspecific), involving the contest for limited resources. This interaction can influence individual growth, reproduction, and survival, playing a critical role in regulating population dynamics and modulating community structures. In this study, we assessed the impact of competition type (intraspecific and interspecific) and competition pressure (low and high) on the coexistence of juvenile individuals of two sympatric prawn species commonly found in freshwater environments of South America: <em>Palaemon argentinus</em> and <em>Macrobrachium borellii</em>. To this end, we developed an experimental design to assess how different competition types and pressures affect the survival and growth rates of juveniles of both species, their frequency of use of the provided substrates and shelters, and their priority in obtaining food. The results showed that both the competition type and pressure influenced how these species coexist in experimental aquaria. High-pressure competition affected the survival of both species, with interspecific competition mainly impacting on the survival of <em>P. argentinus</em> and intraspecific competition mainly impacting on the survival of <em>M. borellii</em>. <em>Macrobrachium borellii</em> proved to be the dominant prawn because, under interspecific competition, this species showed higher survival rate, displaced <em>P. argentinus</em> from the spaces and substrates previously used, and secured food before <em>P. argentinus</em> when competitive pressure was high<em>.</em> However, the growth rate of both species was unaffected by either the competition type or pressure. This study provides insights into how competition can influence the ecological dynamics of these sympatric prawn species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49330,"journal":{"name":"Zoology","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 126268"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143848279","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}

{"title":"Maternal and social status affect hair cortisol concentrations in brown bears","authors":"Marcello Franchini ,&nbsp;Ashlee J. Mikkelsen ,&nbsp;Agnieszka Sergiel ,&nbsp;Nuria Selva ,&nbsp;David M. Janz ,&nbsp;Jonas Kindberg ,&nbsp;Andreas Zedrosser","doi":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126257","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126257","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hair cortisol concentration is affected by different biological factors, including age, sex, and reproductive status, and can provide important insights into fitness. Using cortisol concentrations of wild Scandinavian brown bears, <em>Ursus arctos</em>, the purpose of this study was to investigate cortisol variations among individuals in relation to age, sex, and reproductive status (solitary individuals vs individuals in a family group). Cortisol concentrations were measured in 448 hair samples of 303 brown bears (162 males and 141 females, from one to nine years of age) captured from 1990 to 2016. We found that members of family groups, i.e., mothers as well as their dependent offspring, had significantly higher cortisol concentrations compared to solitary individuals (males or females). Higher energetic costs in family groups are likely linked to growth of the offspring as well as maternal costs incurred by the rearing of offspring. Our findings provide valuable insights into the physiological effects of maternal care and reproductive status in mammals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49330,"journal":{"name":"Zoology","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 126257"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143619663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"To the roots: reconstruction of the ancestral state of the dorid feeding apparatus","authors":"Anna L. Mikhlina ,&nbsp;Irina A. Ekimova ,&nbsp;Dimitry M. Schepetov ,&nbsp;Ángel Valdés ,&nbsp;Elena V. Vortsepneva","doi":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diet-driven ecological radiation has been proposed as a key factor in the diversification of Nudibranchia. Members of Doridina, one of the two major clades of nudibranchs, have a remarkably wide range of dietary preferences. The morphology of the feeding apparatus is related to prey preferences and feeding mechanisms. Therefore, the investigation of the evolutionary changes in the morphology of the feeding apparatus can provide valuable insights into the evolution of Doridina. Recent significant changes in our understanding of the phylogeny of Doridina have highlighted the need to re-evaluate current hypotheses on the evolution of the buccal armature morphology and correlated dietary shifts in this group. To address this, we compiled and analysed a comprehensive dataset that combined phylogenetic and morphological data to reconstruct the evolution of the buccal armature in Doridina. We also review the feeding biology of various groups of dorids to provide a deeper view of the evolution of the morphology of the feeding apparatus. We hypothesised the plesiomorphic conditions of the buccal armature for each large clade of Doridina and for the entire group. Within Doridina, there is a strong phylogenetic correlation with prey preference as major changes in the diet preferences of several clades led to significant transformations in radular morphology. We also discovered several cases of retention of plesiomorphic radular morphology and feeding mechanisms in different phylogenetic lineages of Doridina.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49330,"journal":{"name":"Zoology","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 126256"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143636556","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}

{"title":"Altitude correlates with dorsal −but not ventral− scale number and dimension in a lacertid lizard","authors":"Marco Sannolo ,&nbsp;Raquel Ponti","doi":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The primary function of the keratinised skin of squamates is modulating heat load, reducing water loss rates and protecting from abrasion. Furthermore, reptilian scale size and shape variation have also been observed depending on the habitat and associated environmental conditions. However, how climate can modulate intraspecific scale characteristics of reptile species in temperate regions is still a subject of debate. Here, we investigate the potential correlation between climate and lizard scalation for a European lacertid lizard. From 221 museum collection specimens of <em>Podarcis muralis</em>, we recorded body measurements and sex information and counted the number and size of dorsal scales and the number of ventral scales per individual. We obtained each specimens’ capture location information from which we extracted environmental data like temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation and altitude. We found that individuals that inhabited higher elevations tended to have fewer and larger dorsal scales than those from lowlands, as a potential adaptation to decrease water loss in arid and windy environments. We did not find a correlation between the number of ventral scales and environmental conditions, except for wind speed. This study uncovers an intraspecific adaptive mechanism in an environment gradient that is key to understanding species' potential adaptation to future climatic conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49330,"journal":{"name":"Zoology","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 126249"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143479344","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}

{"title":"Ontogenetic trajectories and sexual dimorphism of a neotropical ground snake genus Erythrolamprus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae)","authors":"Daniel Silva Fernandes ,&nbsp;Cristiane Barros Régis","doi":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.zool.2025.126248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Allometry and sexual dimorphism are potential sources of intraspecific morphological variation. Advances in the methodological framework of geometric morphometrics allow in-depth analysis of these issues, enabling the descriptions and comparisons between groups of multivariate phenotypic attributes and the visualization of allometric trajectories. In the present study, we evaluated the presence of secondary sexual dimorphism in <em>Erythrolamprus miliaris merremi</em>, a semi-aquatic snake occurring in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. We assessed linear body measurements and digitized landmarks in the dorsal view of the head of 107 specimens grouped into four categories combining ontogenetic stages and sex. We performed linear models and principal component analyses to estimate and visualize head shape variation and the allometric trajectories of these categories. Adults from both sexes and immature females showed significant static allometry, while immature males showed isometric growth. Although we recovered no sexual dimorphism for head shape, ontogenetic trajectories of both sexes are distinct, with females showing head shape variation throughout ontogenetic development, while males exhibited more conspicuous changes only after sexual maturity. Comparisons with literature data suggest a high degree of variation in ontogenetic allometry of snakes, depending on the phylogenetic group or structure (head/skull) analyzed, while the results for static allometry are more similar between the studied taxa. Only the collection of data on distinct groups of snakes will provide more clues as to whether there is any allometric pattern to these structures, and which factors (evolutionary, ecological or both) are prevalent over it, especially for ontogenetic allometry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49330,"journal":{"name":"Zoology","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 126248"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419507","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}