| An upper Cretaceous lizard with a lower temporal arcade. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 18338150 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The reduced lower temporal arcade of the skull and the movable quadrate are the most distinctive features of squamates. Up to now, no exception has been documented for any fossil or extant squamates. We report here a new fossil lizard that possesses a complete lower temporal arcade and an unmovable quadrate. The anatomical relationships indicate that those two modifications were secondarily obtained in the new lizard. The complete lower temporal bar and the firm contact between the pterygoid and quadrate may have served as a brace to support the quadrate jaw articulation and thus prevent it from twisting anteriorly rather than posteriorly during the bite cycles. This represents an entirely new pattern of jaw muscle functions within the Squamata. |
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Authors:
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Jun-Chang Lü; Shu-An Ji; Zhi-Ming Dong; Xiao-Chun Wu |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2008-03-13 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Die Naturwissenschaften Volume: 95 ISSN: 0028-1042 ISO Abbreviation: Naturwissenschaften Publication Date: 2008 Jul |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-06-27 Completed Date: 2008-09-30 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0400767 Medline TA: Naturwissenschaften Country: Germany |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 663-9 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Geological Institute, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 26 Baiwanzhuang Road, Beijing 100037, People's Republic of China. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals China Fossils* Lizards / anatomy & histology* Mandible / anatomy & histology Skull / anatomy & histology* Tooth / anatomy & histology |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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