title: The american alligator (Alligator mississipiensis): a new model for investigating developmental mechanisms in normal and abnormal palate formation.
abstract: Despite numerous investigations, there are still many unsolved problems concerning normal and abnormal palatal development. The American Alligator is here put forward as a new model for the investigation of a variety of developmental phenomena associated with palatogenesis. The structure of the palate of the adult Alligator is reported. This animal exhibits a unique combination of reptilian and mammalian features in its craniofacial anatomy and so its craniofacial development should be of considerable interest.
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology*; D000818:Animals; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000209:etiology*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D010159:Palate / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology*; D012104:Reptiles / Q000196:embryology*; D012886:Skull / Q000196:embryology