Ecology, morphology and the diversification of Australian lizards

这个项目的目的是确定导致澳大利亚蜥蜴的惊人辐射的因素。迄今为止，大多数对蜥蜴解剖的研究都只集中在外部特征上。该项目将检查潜在的内部解剖结构，以调查形态创新是否与生态、生活史和物种多样化的提高有关。该项目希望揭示澳大利亚最多样化的脊椎动物谱系的进化，并提供比较数据，以解释澳大利亚的蜥蜴化石记录，以及本土蜥蜴物种的范围下降和相对灭绝的风险。

This project aims to determine the factors driving the spectacular radiation of lizards in Australia. To date, most investigations of lizard anatomy have focused exclusively on external characteristics. This project will examine the underlying internal anatomy to investigate whether morphological innovation is associated with enhanced rates of ecological, life-history and species diversification. The project expects to shed light on the evolution of Australia’s most diverse vertebrate lineage, and provide comparative data with which to interpret the lizard fossil record in Australia, and the range declines and relative extinction risks of native lizard species.