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Das S, Greenbaum E, Brecko J, Pauwels OSG, Ruane S, Pirro S, Merilä J. Phylogenomics of Psammodynastes and Buhoma (Elapoidea: Serpentes), with the description of a new Asian snake family. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9489. [PMID: 38664489 PMCID: PMC11045840 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60215-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Asian mock vipers of the genus Psammodynastes and African forest snakes of the genus Buhoma are two genera belonging to the snake superfamily Elapoidea. The phylogenetic placements of Psammodynastes and Buhoma within Elapoidea has been extremely unstable which has resulted in their uncertain and debated taxonomy. We used ultraconserved elements and traditional nuclear and mitochondrial markers to infer the phylogenetic relationships of these two genera with other elapoids. Psammodynastes, for which a reference genome has been sequenced, were found, with strong branch support, to be a relatively early diverging split within Elapoidea that is sister to a clade consisting of Elapidae, Micrelapidae and Lamprophiidae. Hence, we allocate Psammodynastes to its own family, Psammodynastidae new family. However, the phylogenetic position of Buhoma could not be resolved with a high degree of confidence. Attempts to identify the possible sources of conflict in the rapid radiation of elapoid snakes suggest that both hybridisation/introgression during the rapid diversification, including possible ghost introgression, as well as incomplete lineage sorting likely have had a confounding role. The usual practice of combining mitochondrial loci with nuclear genomic data appears to mislead phylogeny reconstructions in rapid radiation scenarios, especially in the absence of genome scale data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunandan Das
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Eli Greenbaum
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Jonathan Brecko
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Rue Vautier 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Olivier S G Pauwels
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Rue Vautier 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sara Ruane
- Life Sciences Section, Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Stacy Pirro
- Iridian Genomes Inc., Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Juha Merilä
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, SAR, China
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2
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Pauwels OSG, Brecko J, Baeghe D, Venderickx J, Vanderheyden A, Backeljau T. Morphological, acoustic and genetic identification of a reproducing population of the invasive African clawed frog Xenopuslaevis (Anura, Pipidae) recently discovered in Belgium. Zookeys 2023; 1184:41-64. [PMID: 38023767 PMCID: PMC10664028 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1184.103702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Using external morphology of adults and tadpoles, osteology from high-resolution microcomputed tomography, vocalization analysis, and DNA sequence data, the identity of a reproducing Belgian population of invasive Xenopus at the current northernmost edge of the distribution of the genus in Europe was assessed. All data concur to an identification as Xenopus (Xenopus) laevis (Daudin, 1802). Genetically it is most closely related to populations of the Cape region in South Africa. No studies on the natural history of the Belgian Xenopus population and its impact on the local environment have been made to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier S. G. Pauwels
- Scientific Heritage, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, BelgiumScientific Heritage, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural SciencesBrusselsBelgium
| | - Jonathan Brecko
- Scientific Heritage, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, BelgiumScientific Heritage, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural SciencesBrusselsBelgium
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, BelgiumRoyal Museum for Central AfricaTervurenBelgium
| | - Dimitri Baeghe
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology (CP 160/12), Department of Organismic Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, B-1050 Brussels, BelgiumUniversité Libre de BruxellesBrusselsBelgium
| | - Jeroen Venderickx
- Scientific Heritage, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, BelgiumScientific Heritage, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural SciencesBrusselsBelgium
- Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, BelgiumOperational Directorate Natural Environment, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural SciencesBrusselsBelgium
| | - Ann Vanderheyden
- Barcoding Facility for Organisms and Tissues of Policy Concern (BopCo), Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, BelgiumBarcoding Facility for Organisms and Tissues of Policy Concern (BopCo), Royal Belgian Institute of Natural SciencesBrusselsBelgium
| | - Thierry Backeljau
- Barcoding Facility for Organisms and Tissues of Policy Concern (BopCo), Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, BelgiumBarcoding Facility for Organisms and Tissues of Policy Concern (BopCo), Royal Belgian Institute of Natural SciencesBrusselsBelgium
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, BelgiumUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
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3
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Katemo Manda B, Snoeks J, Decru E, Brecko J, Vreven EJWMN. Revision of Nannocharax luapulae Boulenger, 1915 (Characiformes: Distichodontidae) from the Upper Congo basin: Evidence for a species pair. J Fish Biol 2023; 103:557-573. [PMID: 37026429 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
For many decades, Nannocharax luapulae has been considered to be widespread in the southern part of the Upper Congo basin. However, meristic, morphometric and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcoding evidence revealed that its geographical distribution is restricted to the Luapula-Moero basin. The populations of the Upper Lualaba are assigned to a new species, N. chochamandai. This new species, though highly similar to N. luapulae, can readily be distinguished from it by its lower number of lateral line scales, 41-46 (vs. 49-55), its pectoral fin reaching the pelvic-fin insertion (vs. not reaching the pelvic-fin insertion) and its pelvic fin reaching the base of the anal fin (vs. not reaching the base of the anal fin). Specimens of N. chochamandai display thickened pads on the first three pelvic-fin rays that exhibit intraspecific variation in development, which appears to be related to the flow-strength of the river in which these Nannocharax specimens occur. Nannocharax luapulae is redescribed and an updated identification key to the Nannocharax species of the Congo basin sensu lato is provided as well. Some fish conservation issues related to N. luapulae and N. chochamandai are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bauchet Katemo Manda
- Unité de Recherche en Biodiversité et Exploitation durable des Zones Humides, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jos Snoeks
- Ichthyology, Section Vertebrates, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
- Biology Department, Fish Diversity and Conservation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eva Decru
- Biology Department, Fish Diversity and Conservation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Brecko
- Biological Collection and Data Management, Section Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
- Scientific Service of Heritage, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emmanuel J W M N Vreven
- Ichthyology, Section Vertebrates, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
- Biology Department, Fish Diversity and Conservation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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4
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Das S, Greenbaum E, Meiri S, Bauer AM, Burbrink FT, Raxworthy CJ, Weinell JL, Brown RM, Brecko J, Pauwels OSG, Rabibisoa N, Raselimanana AP, Merilä J. Ultraconserved elements-based phylogenomic systematics of the snake superfamily Elapoidea, with the description of a new Afro-Asian family. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 180:107700. [PMID: 36603697 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The highly diverse snake superfamily Elapoidea is considered to be a classic example of ancient, rapid radiation. Such radiations are challenging to fully resolve phylogenetically, with the highly diverse Elapoidea a case in point. Previous attempts at inferring a phylogeny of elapoids produced highly incongruent estimates of their evolutionary relationships, often with very low statistical support. We sought to resolve this situation by sequencing over 4,500 ultraconserved element loci from multiple representatives of every elapoid family/subfamily level taxon and inferring their phylogenetic relationships with multiple methods. Concatenation and multispecies coalescent based species trees yielded largely congruent and well-supported topologies. Hypotheses of a hard polytomy were not retained for any deep branches. Our phylogenies recovered Cyclocoridae and Elapidae as diverging early within Elapoidea. The Afro-Malagasy radiation of elapoid snakes, classified as multiple subfamilies of an inclusive Lamprophiidae by some earlier authors, was found to be monophyletic in all analyses. The genus Micrelaps was consistently recovered as sister to Lamprophiidae. We establish a new family, Micrelapidae fam. nov., for Micrelaps and assign Brachyophis to this family based on cranial osteological synapomorphy. We estimate that Elapoidea originated in the early Eocene and rapidly diversified into all the major lineages during this epoch. Ecological opportunities presented by the post-Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction event may have promoted the explosive radiation of elapoid snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunandan Das
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Eli Greenbaum
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Shai Meiri
- School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Aaron M Bauer
- Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085, USA
| | - Frank T Burbrink
- Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5192, USA
| | - Christopher J Raxworthy
- Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5192, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Weinell
- Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5192, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Rafe M Brown
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Jonathan Brecko
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Olivier S G Pauwels
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nirhy Rabibisoa
- Sciences de la Vie et de l'Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, de Technologies et de l'Environnement, Université de Mahajanga, Campus Universitaire d'Ambondrona, BP 652, Mahajanga 401, Madagascar
| | - Achille P Raselimanana
- Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
| | - Juha Merilä
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland; Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, Pokfulam Road, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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5
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Lowie A, De Kegel B, Wilkinson M, Measey J, O'Reilly JC, Kley NJ, Gaucher P, Brecko J, Kleinteich T, Adriaens D, Herrel A. Is vertebral shape variability in caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) constrained by forces experienced during burrowing? J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275610. [PMID: 35662342 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Caecilians are predominantly burrowing, elongate, limbless amphibians that remain relatively poorly studied. Although it has been suggested that the sturdy and compact skulls of caecilians are an adaptation to their head-first burrowing habits, no clear relationship between skull shape and burrowing performance appears to exist. However, the external forces encountered during burrowing are transmitted by the skull to the vertebral column, and as such, may impact vertebral shape. Additionally, the muscles that generate the burrowing forces attach onto the vertebral column and consequently may impact vertebral shape that way as well. Here, we explore the relationships between vertebral shape and maximal in vivo push forces in 13 species of caecilian amphibians. Our results show that the shape of the two most anterior vertebrae, as well as the shape of the vertebrae at 90% of the total body length, are not correlated with peak push forces. Conversely, the shape of the third vertebrae, and the vertebrae at 20% and 60% of the total body length, do show a relationship to push forces measured in vivo. Whether these relationships are indirect (external forces constraining shape variation) or direct (muscles forces constraining shape variation) remains unclear and will require quantitative studies of the axial musculature. Importantly, our data suggest that mid-body vertebrae may potentially be used as proxies to infer burrowing capacity in fossil representatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Lowie
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Barbara De Kegel
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Mark Wilkinson
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - James C O'Reilly
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Cleveland Campus, SPS-334C, Cleveland, OH 45701, USA
| | - Nathan J Kley
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, T8-082, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8081, USA
| | - Philippe Gaucher
- USR 3456, CNRS, Centre de recherche de Montabo IRD, CNRS-Guyane, 97334 Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Jonathan Brecko
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Biological Collections and Data Management, 3080 Tervuren, Belgium
| | | | - Dominique Adriaens
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium.,UMR 7179 C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N., Département d'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, 57 rue Cuvier, Case postale 55, 75231, Paris Cedex 5, France
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6
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Lowie A, De Kegel B, Wilkinson M, Measey J, O'Reilly JC, Kley NJ, Gaucher P, Brecko J, Kleinteich T, Herrel A, Adriaens D. Regional differences in vertebral shape along the axial skeleton in caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona). J Anat 2022; 241:716-728. [PMID: 35488423 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Caecilians are elongate, limbless and annulated amphibians that, as far as is known, all have an at least partly fossorial lifestyle. It has been suggested that elongate limbless vertebrates show little morphological differentiation throughout the postcranial skeleton. However, relatively few studies have explored the axial skeleton in limbless tetrapods. In this study, we used μCT data and three-dimensional geometric morphometrics to explore regional differences in vertebral shape across a broad range of caecilian species. Our results highlight substantial differences in vertebral shape along the axial skeleton, with anterior vertebrae being short and bulky, whereas posterior vertebrae are more elongated. This study shows that despite being limbless, elongate tetrapods such as caecilians still show regional heterogeneity in the shape of individual vertebrae along the vertebral column. Further studies are needed, however, to understand the possible causes and functional consequences of the observed variation in vertebral shape in caecilians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Lowie
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Barbara De Kegel
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mark Wilkinson
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - James C O'Reilly
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Nathan J Kley
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Philippe Gaucher
- USR 3456, CNRS, Centre de recherche de Montabo IRD, CNRS-Guyane, Cayenne, France
| | - Jonathan Brecko
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Biological Collections and Data Management, Tervuren, Belgium
| | | | - Anthony Herrel
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,UMR 7179 C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N, Département d'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Paris Cedex 5, France
| | - Dominique Adriaens
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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7
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Das S, Brecko J, Pauwels OSG, Merilä J. Cranial osteology of
Hypoptophis
(Aparallactinae: Atractaspididae: Caenophidia), with a discussion on the evolution of its fossorial adaptations. J Morphol 2022; 283:510-538. [PMID: 35094424 PMCID: PMC9305546 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sunandan Das
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, FI‐00014 University of Helsinki Finland
| | - Jonathan Brecko
- Department of Recent Vertebrates Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), Rue Vautier 29, B‐1000 Brussels Belgium
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, 3080 Tervuren Belgium
| | - Olivier S. G. Pauwels
- Department of Recent Vertebrates Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), Rue Vautier 29, B‐1000 Brussels Belgium
| | - Juha Merilä
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, FI‐00014 University of Helsinki Finland
- Division of Ecology and Biodiversity, Faculty of Science The University of Hong Kong, KBSB 3N19 Hong Kong SAR
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Lowie A, De Kegel B, Wilkinson M, Measey J, O'Reilly JC, Kley NJ, Gaucher P, Brecko J, Kleinteich T, Adriaens D, Herrel A. The relationship between head shape, head musculature and bite force in caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona). J Exp Biol 2021; 225:273674. [PMID: 34897477 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Caecilians are enigmatic limbless amphibians that, with a few exceptions all have an at least partly burrowing lifestyle. Although it has been suggested that caecilian evolution resulted in sturdy and compact skulls as an adaptation to their head-first burrowing habits, no relationship between skull shape and burrowing performance has been demonstrated to date. However, the unique dual jaw-closing mechanism and the osteological variability of their temporal region suggest a potential relationship between skull shape and feeding mechanics. Here, we explored the relationships between skull shape, head musculature, and in vivo bite forces. Although there is a correlation between bite force and external head shape, no relationship between bite force and skull shape could be detected. Whereas our data suggest that muscles are the principal drivers of variation in bite force, the shape of the skull is constrained by factors other than demands for bite force generation. However, a strong covariation between the cranium and mandible exists. Moreover, both cranium and mandible shape covary with jaw muscle architecture. Caecilians show a gradient between species with a long retroarticular process associated with a large and pennate-fibered m. interhyoideus posterior and species with a short process but long and parallel-fibered jaw adductors. Our results demonstrate the complexity of the relationship between form and function of this jaw system. Further studies that focus on factors such as gape distance or jaw velocity will be needed in order to fully understand the evolution of feeding mechanics in caecilians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Lowie
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Barbara De Kegel
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Mark Wilkinson
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - James C O'Reilly
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Cleveland Campus, SPS-334C, Cleveland, OH 45701, USA
| | - Nathan J Kley
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, T8-082, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8081, USA
| | - Philippe Gaucher
- USR 3456, CNRS, Centre de recherche de Montabo IRD, CNRS-Guyane, 97334 Cayenne, France
| | - Jonathan Brecko
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Biological Collections and Data Management, 3080 Tervuren, Belgium
| | | | - Dominique Adriaens
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium.,UMR 7179 C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N., Département d'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, 57 rue Cuvier, Case postale 55, 75231, Paris Cedex 5, France
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9
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Lowie A, De Kegel B, Wilkinson M, Measey J, O'Reilly JC, Kley NJ, Gaucher P, Brecko J, Kleinteich T, Van Hoorebeke L, Herrel A, Adriaens D. Under pressure: the relationship between cranial shape and burrowing force in caecilians (Gymnophiona). J Exp Biol 2021; 224:272111. [PMID: 34494653 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Caecilians are elongate, limbless and annulated amphibians that, with the exception of one aquatic family, all have an at least partly fossorial lifestyle. It has been suggested that caecilian evolution resulted in sturdy and compact skulls with fused bones and tight sutures, as an adaptation to their head-first burrowing habits. However, although their cranial osteology is well described, relationships between form and function remain poorly understood. In the present study, we explored the relationship between cranial shape and in vivo burrowing forces. Using micro-computed tomography (µCT) data, we performed 3D geometric morphometrics to explore whether cranial and mandibular shapes reflected patterns that might be associated with maximal push forces. The results highlight important differences in maximal push forces, with the aquatic Typhlonectes producing a lower force for a given size compared with other species. Despite substantial differences in head morphology across species, no relationship between overall skull shape and push force could be detected. Although a strong phylogenetic signal may partly obscure the results, our conclusions confirm previous studies using biomechanical models and suggest that differences in the degree of fossoriality do not appear to be driving the evolution of head shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Lowie
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Barbara De Kegel
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Mark Wilkinson
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - James C O'Reilly
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Cleveland Campus, SPS-334C, Cleveland, OH 45701, USA
| | - Nathan J Kley
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Health Sciences Center, T8 (082), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8081, USA
| | - Philippe Gaucher
- USR 3456, CNRS, Centre de recherche de Montabo IRD, CNRS-Guyane, 97334 Cayenne, France
| | - Jonathan Brecko
- Royal Museum for Central Africa, Biological Collections and Data Management, 3080 Tervuren, Belgium
| | | | - Luc Van Hoorebeke
- UGCT - Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86/N12, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium.,UMR 7179 C.N.R.S./M.N.H.N., Département d'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, 57 rue Cuvier, Case postale 55, 75231 Paris Cedex 5, France
| | - Dominique Adriaens
- Ghent University, Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
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Brecko J, Mathys A, Dekoninck W, De Ceukelaire M, VandenSpiegel D, Semal P. Revealing Invisible Beauty, Ultra Detailed: The Influence of Low Cost UV Exposure on Natural History Specimens in 2D+ Digitization. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161572. [PMID: 27536993 PMCID: PMC4990233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Digitization of the natural history specimens usually occurs by taking detailed pictures from different sides or producing 3D models. Additionally this is normally limited to imaging the specimen while exposed by light of the visual spectrum. However many specimens can see in or react to other spectra as well. Fluorescence is a well known reaction to the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum by animals, plants, minerals etc. but rarely taken into account while examining natural history specimens. Our tests show that museum specimens still fluoresce when exposed to UV light of 395 nm and 365 nm, even after many years of preservation. When the UV exposure is used in the digitization of specimens using our low cost focus stacking (2D+) setup, the resulting pictures reveal more detail than the conventional 2D+ images. Differences in fluorescence using 395 nm or 365 nm UV lights were noticed, however there isn’t a preferred wavelength as some specimens react more to the first, while others have better results with the latter exposure. Given the increased detail and the low cost of the system, UV exposure should be considered while digitizing natural history museum collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Brecko
- Scientific Heritage Service, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
- Biological Collection and Data Management, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Aurore Mathys
- Scientific Heritage Service, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
- Biological Collection and Data Management, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Wouter Dekoninck
- Scientific Heritage Service, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marleen De Ceukelaire
- Scientific Heritage Service, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Didier VandenSpiegel
- Biological Collection and Data Management, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Leuvensesteenweg 13, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Patrick Semal
- Scientific Heritage Service, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
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Brecko J, Mathys A, Dekoninck W, Leponce M, VandenSpiegel D, Semal P. Focus stacking: Comparing commercial top-end set-ups with a semi-automatic low budget approach. A possible solution for mass digitization of type specimens. Zookeys 2014:1-23. [PMID: 25589866 PMCID: PMC4284632 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.464.8615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this manuscript we present a focus stacking system, composed of commercial photographic equipment. The system is inexpensive compared to high-end commercial focus stacking solutions. We tested this system and compared the results with several different software packages (CombineZP, Auto-Montage, Helicon Focus and Zerene Stacker). We tested our final stacked picture with a picture obtained from two high-end focus stacking solutions: a Leica MZ16A with DFC500 and a Leica Z6APO with DFC290. Zerene Stacker and Helicon Focus both provided satisfactory results. However, Zerene Stacker gives the user more possibilities in terms of control of the software, batch processing and retouching. The outcome of the test on high-end solutions demonstrates that our approach performs better in several ways. The resolution of the tested extended focus pictures is much higher than those from the Leica systems. The flash lighting inside the Ikea closet creates an evenly illuminated picture, without struggling with filters, diffusers, etc. The largest benefit is the price of the set-up which is approximately € 3,000, which is 8 and 10 times less than the LeicaZ6APO and LeicaMZ16A set-up respectively. Overall, this enables institutions to purchase multiple solutions or to start digitising the type collection on a large scale even with a small budget.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Brecko
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium ; Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervurensesteenweg, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Aurore Mathys
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium ; Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervurensesteenweg, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Wouter Dekoninck
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maurice Leponce
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Patrick Semal
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
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Vervust B, Brecko J, Herrel A. Temperature effects on snapping performance in the common snapper Chelydra serpentina (Reptilia, Testudines). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 315:41-7. [PMID: 21137093 DOI: 10.1002/jez.650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2010] [Revised: 08/24/2010] [Accepted: 09/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Studies on the effect of temperature on whole-animal performance traits other than locomotion are rare. Here we investigate the effects of temperature on the performance of the turtle feeding apparatus in a defensive context. We measured bite force and the kinematics of snapping in the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) over a wide range of body temperatures. Bite force performance was thermally insensitive over the broad range of temperatures typically experienced by these turtles in nature. In contrast, neck extension (velocity, acceleration, and deceleration) and jaw movements (velocity, acceleration, and deceleration) showed clear temperature dependence with peak acceleration and deceleration capacity increasing with increasing temperatures. Our results regarding the temperature dependence of defensive behavior are reflected by the ecology and overall behavior of this species. These data illustrate the necessity for carefully controlling T(b) when carrying out behavioral and functional studies on turtles as temperature affects the velocity, acceleration, and deceleration of jaw and neck extension movements. More generally, these data add to the limited but increasing number of studies showing that temperature may have important effects on feeding and defensive performance in ectotherms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart Vervust
- Laboratory for Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, Belgium.
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Van Wassenbergh S, Brecko J, Aerts P, Stouten I, Vanheusden G, Camps A, Van Damme R, Herrel A. Hydrodynamic constraints on prey-capture performance in forward-striking snakes. J R Soc Interface 2009; 7:773-85. [PMID: 19828500 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2009.0385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Some specialized aquatic snakes such as Natrix tessellata strike at fish by rapidly accelerating their head towards the prey with their mouth opened widely. This strategy is believed to be suboptimal as relatively high drag forces act on the open jaws and, therefore, probably limit strike speed. Moreover, the bow wave in front of the snake's jaws could push prey away from the mouth, thus potentially explaining the relatively low capture success observed in these animals (<20%). Here, we used laser-scan based computational fluid dynamics to test these potential constraints on prey-capture performance for N. tessellata. Our simulations showed that drag force indeed increases drastically for striking at a high gape angle. However, we estimated the overall cost in slowing down strike speed to be less pronounced due to the instationary dynamics of the system. In contrast to the expectations, forward displacement of prey was relatively limited (<13% of head length), and forceful collisions between prey and the leading edge of the jaw regularly occurred. However, our models showed that precise aiming by the snake was needed to reduce the chance of deviating the prey to a path bypassing the mouth. Our study also indicated several hydrodynamic advantages for snakes to strike at relatively large prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Van Wassenbergh
- Department of Biology, Universiteit Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerpen, Belgium.
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