Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Integrating Factors in Amphibian Skulls

1953; University of Chicago Press; Volume: 61; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1086/626128

1537-5269

Everett C. Olson,

Bat Biology and Ecology Studies

The dermal bones and sensory openings of the skulls of three extinct amphibians, Trimerorhachis insignis, Diplocaulus magnicornis, and D. recurvatus, have been investigated to determine the factors involved in the integration of these bones and openings. Mathematical relationships of measurements are expressed by correlation coefficients (total and partial) of all pairs. Intercorrelated series of measures (p-groups) are considered to imply the existence of biologically meaningful groups (F-groups). Three factors-skull length, skull width, and the cranial sensory system-are basic to the integration of dermal bones and sensory openings. Trimerorhachis insignis and D. magnicornis, widely separated taxo-nomically, prove to be very similar with respect to the influences of these factors. Diplocaulus recurvatus, descended from D. magnicornis, shows the striking effect of the evolutionary change of one of the factors.