Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Catherine R. C. Strong, Alessandro Palci, Michael W. Caldwell
Summary: The study of atractaspidid skull morphology sheds light on their unique characteristics and relationship with other snake groups, contributing to the understanding of snake evolution and phylogeny.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2021)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thiago Schineider Fachini, Silvio Onary, Alessandro Palci, Michael S. Y. Lee, Mario Bronzati, Annie Schmaltz Hsiou
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Annie S. Hsiou, Randall L. Nydam, Tiago R. Simoes, Flavio A. Pretto, Silvio Onary, Agustin G. Martinelli, Alexandre Liparini, Paulo R. Romo de Vivar Martinez, Marina B. Soares, Cesar L. Schultz, Michael W. Caldwell
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Alexander J. Willman, Takuya Konishi, Michael W. Caldwell
Summary: FHSM VP-5515 is a medium-sized russellosaurine mosasaur with unique cranial features, possibly representing a new species of Ectenosaurus.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ricardo N. Martinez, Tiago R. Simoes, Gabriela Sobral, Sebastian Apesteguia
Summary: The study reports the discovery of a new species of reptile, Taytalura, from the Late Triassic epoch of Argentina, which is strongly inferred to be the earliest evolving lepidosauromorph. The research findings suggest that the skull structure of sphenodontians represents the ancestral condition for all lepidosaurs, and that early lepidosauromorphs had a much broader geographical distribution than previously thought.
Article
Biology
Alessandro Palci, Aaron R. H. LeBlanc, Olga Panagiotopoulou, Silke G. C. Cleuren, Hyab Mehari Abraha, Mark N. Hutchinson, Alistair R. Evans, Michael W. Caldwell, Michael S. Y. Lee
Summary: In this study, the repeated evolution of snake venom fangs is explored using histology, microCT, and biomechanical modeling. It is found that venom grooves in venomous snakes originate from infoldings of developing dental epithelium, and not directly related to venom ducts. Contrary to previous assumptions, dentine infoldings do not enhance biting performance but may play a role in tooth attachment.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Ilaria Paparella, Michael W. Caldwell
Summary: The marine iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus, has evolved unique adaptations to live in both terrestrial and marine environments. Its specialized feeding behavior, skull morphology, and dentition distinguish it from other iguanids. By studying comparisons with its closest relatives, new cranial features have been identified which may contribute to future phylogenetic analyses and understanding the evolution of these unique adaptations.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Arthur S. Brum, Tiago R. Simoes, Geovane A. Souza, Andre E. P. Pinheiro, Rodrigo G. Figueiredo, Michael W. Caldwell, Juliana M. Sayao, Alexander W. A. Kellner
Summary: The study of Antarctic plesiosaurian record is crucial for understanding the evolution of elasmosaurids in the southern hemisphere. Through analyzing the cervical vertebral shapes of elasmosaurids, this research provides insights into the diversity and changes in shape throughout ontogeny and phylogeny. The findings reveal that Antarctic elasmosaurids show greater diversity than previously recognized.
Article
Biology
Tiago R. Simoes, Grace Kinney-Broderick, Stephanie E. Pierce
Summary: Sphenodontian reptiles, including the tuatara of New Zealand, are an extremely old evolutionary lineage and were more diverse than lizards and snakes during the early part of their evolutionary history. However, our understanding of the tuatara's origins has been severely limited due to the fragmented nature of their fossils. In this study, a new sphenodontian species from the Early Jurassic of North America is introduced, providing the most complete ontogenetic series in the sphenodontian fossil record. The findings suggest that the modern tuatara morphology has a strong morphological stability and an ancient origin.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Catherine R. C. Strong, Mark D. Scherz, Michael W. Caldwell
Summary: This study investigates the interplay between 'microstomy' (small-gaped feeding), fossoriality, and miniaturization in scolecophidians by using anatomical network analysis. The results reveal distinctive patterns of jaw connectivity across purported 'microstomatans' and demonstrate that fossoriality and miniaturization impose further evolutionary constraint on skull architecture. These findings challenge the traditional views of scolecophidians as fundamentally plesiomorphic and morphologically homogeneous, providing important insights into the macroevolutionary trends among squamates.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tiago R. Simoes, Christian F. Kammerer, Michael W. Caldwell, Stephanie E. Pierce
Summary: Climate change has had a significant impact on the evolution of reptiles, not only through ecological opportunities following extinction events but also through multiple adaptive responses spanning millions of years.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Megan Rose Woolley, Anusuya Chinsamy, Michael Wayne Caldwell
Summary: Multiple mosasaur remains, including jaw fragments, frontal bones, muzzle unit, and vertebra, have been discovered in South Africa. Through morphological description and taxonomic interpretation, it has been determined that these fossils represent at least three different mosasaur taxa.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
A. R. H. LeBlanc, A. Palci, N. Anthwal, A. S. Tucker, R. Araujo, M. F. C. Pereira, M. W. Caldwell
Summary: The central question in squamate evolution is whether snakes evolved their elongated, limbless bodies or their specialized skulls and teeth first. The authors use histology to show that odontoclasts resorb dentine internally and investigate this mechanism in fossil snakes, providing a method for identifying fossil snakes. They also detect internal tooth resorption in the fossil snake, Yurlunggur, suggesting it is one of the earliest innovations in Pan-Serpentes, likely preceding limb loss.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Silvio Onary, Annie S. Hsiou, Michael S. Y. Lee, Alessandro Palci
Summary: This study redescribed and revised the extinct fossil snake Boavus through osteological analysis and phylogenetic methods. Differences between Boavus occidentalis, B. agilis, and B. affinis were attributed to normal vertebral variation, with the latter two being considered junior synonyms of the first species. The phylogenetic analysis placed Boavus within crown-Booidea as an early booid but outside of Boidae, suggesting an earlier divergence time for crown-Booidea than previously estimated.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Michael W. Caldwell, Tiago R. Simoes, Alessandro Palci, Fernando F. Garberoglio, Robert R. Reisz, Michael S. Y. Lee, Randall L. Nydam
Summary: This study describes the first known snake fossil with fore- and hind limbs, Tetrapodophis amplectus, from the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil, and provides new evidence refuting its classification as a snake and identifying it as a dolichosaur instead. The analysis of its morphological features reveals aquatic adaptations, with no evidence supporting constriction behavior or macromystomy.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY
(2021)