Revealing the bite: We finally know how jaws evolved in snakes and lizards
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Revealing the bite: We finally know how jaws evolved in snakes and lizards

India Today  

A new study from the University of Bristol has revealed insights into the evolution of jaw shapes in lizards and snakes, the most diverse group of land vertebrates with nearly 12,000 species. Led by a team of evolutionary biologists, the study found that the evolution of jaw shape in lepidosaurs is shaped by a complex interplay of factors beyond mere ecological influences. Dr. Antonio Ballell Mayoral, a researcher at Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences and co-author of the study, explained, “Jaw shape evolves particularly fast in ecologically specialised groups, such as burrowing and aquatic species, and in herbivorous lizards.” This suggests that innovations in lower jaw morphology have been crucial for these species to adapt to their unique ecological niches. The findings demonstrate the vital role that morphological innovation plays in promoting diversification among highly biodiverse groups like lepidosaurs.

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History of this topic

T rex’s ‘ferocious’ fangs were hidden by lizard-like lips, say scientists
1 year, 11 months ago

T rex’s ‘ferocious’ fangs were hidden by lizard-like lips, say scientists

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex have been wrongly shown in films …

Plant-eating dinosaurs had varied eating styles, skull analysis suggests
2 years, 2 months ago

Plant-eating dinosaurs had varied eating styles, skull analysis suggests

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, …

Tiny prehistoric lizard sheds light on reptile evolution: Study
5 years, 1 month ago

Tiny prehistoric lizard sheds light on reptile evolution: Study

India TV News  

Researchers have unearthed a new prehistoric reptile species which they claim to be an ancestor to modern-day lizards and snakes, a finding that sheds more light on the early evolution of four-legged creatures. According to the researchers, including Tiago R Simoes from Harvard University in the US, lepidosauromorph specimens have only been found across a few sites with fossils from …

Snake ancestors had legs, cheekbones 100 million years ago: Study
5 years, 4 months ago

Snake ancestors had legs, cheekbones 100 million years ago: Study

India TV News  

Snake ancestors that lived nearly 100 million years ago, had legs and a cheekbone which have disappeared entirely in their modern day descendants, according to a study which examined fossils of an ancient rear-limbed reptile called Najash rionegrina. It has some, but not all of the flexible joints found in the skull of modern snakes," said study co-author Alessandro Palci …

Ancient amphibians had mouthful of teeth
7 years, 6 months ago

Ancient amphibians had mouthful of teeth

Daily Mail  

The ancestors of toothless, modern frogs and salamanders had a full array of teeth, researchers have found. Scroll down for videos Frog ancestors had large fangs and thousands of tiny hook-like structures called denticles on the roofs of their mouths that would snare prey. However, in a group called temnospondyls, which are thought to be the ancestors of modern amphibians, …

Prehistoric fish reveals the secret of your smile
12 years, 5 months ago

Prehistoric fish reveals the secret of your smile

Firstpost  

Both jaws and teeth are parts of the anatomy that help make a pretty smile, but their evolutionary origins have just been discovered, thanks to a long dead fish. London: Both jaws and teeth are parts of the anatomy that help make a pretty smile, but their evolutionary origins have just been discovered, thanks to a particle accelerator and a …

Update: A snake with real bite
22 years, 8 months ago

Update: A snake with real bite

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The particular snake, which lives in Singapore, feeds on soft-bellied crabs by tearing them apart …

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