VERTEBRAL EVOLUTION AND THE DIVERSIFICATION OF SQUAMATE REPTILES

摘要: Taxonomic, morphological, and functional diversity are often discordant independent components of diversity. A fundamental largely unanswered question in evolutionary biology is why some clades diversify primarily these not others. Dramatic variation trunk vertebral numbers (14 to >300) among squamate reptiles coincides with different body shapes, snake-like shapes have evolved numerous times. However, whether increased rates or vertebrae underlie shape taxonomic diversification unknown. Using a supertree squamates including 1375 species, corresponding data, we show that evolution coincided disparity evolution, but changes diversification. We also the many has spurred inhibited diversification, suggesting number key innovation. Our findings demonstrate lineage attributes such as relaxation constraints on can facilitate novel factors responsible for