Thanks to two papers published in the March problem of The Anatomical Record, brand-new light is being shed on these animals and their specialized anatomy.Groundbreaking ResearchUsing a micro-CT scanner at The University of Texas at Austins Jackson School of Geosciences, researchers finished a comprehensive relative analysis of 15 amphisbaenians from southern Africa and a bone-by-bone description of every cranial anatomical feature of the species Zygaspis quadrifrons.” But in amphisbaenians, they just have actually kept it,” he said.Mezas analysis also verified sexual dimorphism in Zygaspis quadrifrons, with the females bigger than males in this species.With little biological and ecological data readily available on amphisbaenians, studying their anatomy is the best method for researchers to learn more about these bizarre animals and the covert lives they lead beneath the surface.References: “Cranial anatomy of the “round-headed” Amphisbaenian Zygaspis quadrifrons (Squamata, Amphisbaenia) based on high-resolution x-ray computed tomography” by Christopher J. Bell, Cristhian Cadena, Antonio Meza, Lauren Rudie and Patrick J. Lewis, 17 October 2023, The Anatomical Record.DOI: 10.1002/ ar.25304 The research was funded by the National Science Foundation, the Jackson School of Geosciences and Sam Houston State University.” Variation in the cranial osteology of the amphisbaenian genus Zygaspis based on high-resolution x-ray computed tomography” by Antonio Meza, Christopher J. Bell, Juan D. Daza, Monte L. Thies and Patrick J. Lewis, 17 October 2023, The Anatomical Record.DOI: 10.1002/ ar.25321.
Thanks to 2 papers published in the March problem of The Anatomical Record, new light is being shed on these animals and their specialized anatomy.Groundbreaking ResearchUsing a micro-CT scanner at The University of Texas at Austins Jackson School of Geosciences, researchers completed a detailed relative analysis of 15 amphisbaenians from southern Africa and a bone-by-bone description of every cranial physiological feature of the species Zygaspis quadrifrons. The images likewise render in charming information the amphisbaenians weird singular main tooth, which interlocks with two bottom teeth.” But in amphisbaenians, they simply have actually kept it,” he said.Mezas analysis likewise verified sexual dimorphism in Zygaspis quadrifrons, with the females bigger than males in this species.With little biological and environmental data available on amphisbaenians, studying their anatomy is the best method for scientists to discover more about these unusual animals and the concealed lives they lead below the surface.References: “Cranial anatomy of the “round-headed” Amphisbaenian Zygaspis quadrifrons (Squamata, Amphisbaenia) based on high-resolution x-ray calculated tomography” by Christopher J. Bell, Cristhian Cadena, Antonio Meza, Lauren Rudie and Patrick J. Lewis, 17 October 2023, The Anatomical Record.DOI: 10.1002/ ar.25304 The research study was moneyed by the National Science Foundation, the Jackson School of Geosciences and Sam Houston State University.” Variation in the cranial osteology of the amphisbaenian genus Zygaspis based on high-resolution x-ray calculated tomography” by Antonio Meza, Christopher J. Bell, Juan D. Daza, Monte L. Thies and Patrick J. Lewis, 17 October 2023, The Anatomical Record.DOI: 10.1002/ ar.25321.