Reptile relationships turn turtle ...
Article Abstract:
The evolutionary relationship of turtles to other reptiles is a contentious issue amongst scientists. Corrections to, and reanalysis of, the data used by O. Rieppel and M. deBraga in their 1996 and 1997 studies, shows that they were incorrect in assuming from the data that turtles are advanced diapsid reptiles. The morphological data collected by these scientists actually supports the traditional view that turtles are descendents of primitive anapsid reptiles. Corrections of the data restore diapsid monophyly to the evolutionary tree, and show that turtles are related to anapsid pareiasaurs.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1997
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A snake with legs from the marine Cretaceous of the Middle East
Article Abstract:
Analysis of the fossilized specimens of Pachyrachis problematicus found in the limestone quarries in Jerusalem, Israel establishes an evidence that the squamate is a primitive snake with a well developed hindlimb. The skull reveals the most semblance to the modern snake together with the long and slender body. The presence of separate astralagus and and calcaneum however supports its close relation with most squamates.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1997
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The origin of snake feeding
Article Abstract:
Snakes can engulf extremely large prey, but the evolutionary transition from the largely inflexible lizard skull to the mobile snake skull is not well understood. There is evidence that mosasaurs, marine lizards related to snakes, may be an important intermediate stage. It is likely that the highly flexible lower jaw evolved before the highly flexible upper jaw.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1999
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