The evolution of vertebral fusion is a poorly understood phenomenon that results in the loss
of mobility between sequential vertebrae. Non‐pathological fusion of the anterior cervical …

Oryzias latipes is increasingly used as a model in biomedical skeletal research. The
standard approach is to generate genetic variants with particular skeletal phenotypes which …

Cranial morphology in birds is thought to be shaped by adaptive evolution for foraging
performance. This understanding of ecomorphological evolution is supported by …

Abstract Background Caecilians (Gymnophiona) are the least speciose extant lissamphibian
order, yet living forms capture approximately 250 million years of evolution since their …

To understand the functional meaning of morphological features, we need to relate what we
know about morphology and ecology in a meaningful, quantitative framework. Closely …

The evolutionary radiation of birds has produced incredible morphological variation,
including a huge range of skull form and function. Investigating how this variation arose with …

Diving is a relatively uncommon and highly specialized foraging strategy in birds, mostly
observed within the Aequorlitornithes (waterbirds) by groups such as penguins, cormorants …

Secondary aquatic vertebrates exhibit a diversity of swimming modes that use paired limbs
and/or the tail. Various secondarily aquatic tetrapod clades, including amphibians, reptiles …

During vertical climbing, the gravitational moment tends to pitch the animal's head away
from the climbing surface and this may be countered by (1) applying a correcting torque at a …

Background The origin of birds from non-avian theropod dinosaur ancestors required a
comprehensive restructuring of the body plan to enable the evolution of powered flight. One …