Rapid and repeated limb loss in a clade of scincid lizards
2008
Limb Loss in Australian Lizards
Sample size: 72
publication
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): Adam Skinner, Michael SY Lee, Mark N Hutchinson
Primary Institution: The University of Adelaide
Hypothesis
How does limb reduction occur in the Lerista clade of scincid lizards?
Conclusion
Lerista lizards show a high frequency and rapid rate of limb reduction, indicating significant evolutionary changes in body form.
Supporting Evidence
- Lerista has undergone at least ten independent reductions in the number of digits.
- The highest rate of complete loss of digits is estimated to have occurred within 3.6 million years.
- Ancestral state reconstructions imply 27 instances of limb reduction in Lerista.
Takeaway
Some lizards can lose their limbs really fast, and this study shows that it happens a lot in a group of Australian lizards called Lerista.
Methodology
The study used a comprehensive phylogeny inferred from nucleotide sequences for a nuclear intron and six mitochondrial genes.
Limitations
The phylogeny of Lerista remains largely obscure, which may limit the understanding of limb reduction patterns.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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