The Evolutionary Morphology of Caecilians: Development, Function, and Phylogenesis

这个项目调查了两栖动物第三目--裸体裸体动物的形态和进化关系。将收集关于骨骼、肌肉、神经、皮肤结构和其他解剖成分的描述性、形态测量、发育和功能形态数据，以更好地了解这种相对罕见的热带类群的生物学。这将提供数据，以便更有力地分析物种、属和科的进化关系，以及它们与其他脊椎动物的关系；这项研究可能为进化模式和过程提供新的见解。

This project investigates the morphology and evolutionary relationships of the members of the third order of the Amphibia--the Gymnophiona. Descriptive, morphometric, developmental, and functional morphological data on bones, muscles, nerves, skin structures, and other anatomical components will be gathered to better understand the biology of this relatively rare tropical group. This will provide data so that more robust analyses of the evolutionary relationships of the species, genera, and families of the group, and their relationship to other vertebrates, can be made; the study may provide new insight into pattern and process of evolution.