Limb-bone histology of temnospondyls: implications for understanding the diversification of palaeoecologies and patterns of locomotion of Permo-Triassic tetrapods

The locomotion of early tetrapods has long been a subject of great interest in the evolutionary history of vertebrates. However, we still do not have a precise understanding of the evolutionary radiation of their locomotory strategies. We present here the first palaeohistological study based on theo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of evolutionary biology 2010-10, Vol.23 (10), p.2076-2090
Main Authors: SANCHEZ, S, GERMAIN, D, DE RICQLÈS, A, ABOURACHID, A, GOUSSARD, F, TAFFOREAU, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adaptation
Adaptation, Biological
Animals
Biodiversity
Biologi
Biological Evolution
Biology
Biomechanical Phenomena
Earth Sciences
Ecosystem
Evolutionary biology
Femur - anatomy & histology
Femur - growth & development
Fossils
Humerus - anatomy & histology
Humerus - growth & development
Life Sciences
Locomotion
NATURAL SCIENCES
NATURVETENSKAP
palaeoecologies
palaeohistology
Paleontology
Populations and Evolution
Principal Component Analysis
radiation
Sciences of the Universe
Systematics, Phylogenetics and taxonomy
tetrapods
Vertebrates
Vertebrates - anatomy & histology
Vertebrates - growth & development
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Summary:The locomotion of early tetrapods has long been a subject of great interest in the evolutionary history of vertebrates. However, we still do not have a precise understanding of the evolutionary radiation of their locomotory strategies. We present here the first palaeohistological study based on theoretical biomechanical considerations among a highly diversified group of early tetrapods, the temnospondyls. Based on the quantification of microanatomical and histological parameters in the humerus and femur of nine genera, this multivariate analysis provides new insights concerning the adaptations of temnospondyls to their palaeoenvironments during the Early Permian, and clearly after the Permo-Triassic crisis. This study therefore presents a methodology that, if based on a bigger sample, could contribute towards a characterization of the behaviour of species during great evolutionary events.
ISSN:1010-061X
1420-9101
1420-9101
DOI:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02081.x