Estimating rates and patterns of morphological evolution from phylogenies: lessons in limb lability from Australian Lerista lizards.
Squamates (lizards and snakes) offer an exciting model system for research on the evolution of body form. A new phylogenetic study in BMC Evolutionary Biology of Australian lizards shows remarkable evolutionary lability in digit numbers among closely related species, but also highlights important challenges in this area.
Wiens
John J
JJ
Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, NY 11794-5245, USA. wiensj@life.bio.sunysb.edu
D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D005075:Biological Evolution; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors