@article{01GJMNTE63H15VEKJ2EPAFHZA0,
  abstract     = {{In limbless fossorial vertebrates such as caecilians (Gymnophiona), head-first burrowing imposes severe constraints on the morphology and overall size of the head. As such, caecilians developed a unique jaw-closing system involving the large and well-developed m. interhyoideus posterior, which is positioned in such a way that it does not significantly increase head diameter. Caecilians also possess unique muscles among amphibians. Understanding the diversity in the architecture and size of the cranial muscles may provide insights into how a typical amphibian system was adapted for a head-first burrowing lifestyle. In this study, we use dissection and non-destructive contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (mu CT) scanning to describe and compare the cranial musculature of 13 species of caecilians. Our results show that the general organization of the head musculature is rather constant across extant caecilians. However, the early-diverging Rhinatrema bivittatum mainly relies on the 'ancestral' amphibian jaw-closing mechanism dominated by the m. adductores mandibulae, whereas other caecilians switched to the use of the derived dual jaw-closing mechanism involving the additional recruitment of the m. interhyoideus posterior. Additionally, the aquatic Typhlonectes show a greater investment in hyoid musculature than terrestrial caecilians, which is likely related to greater demands for ventilating their large lungs, and perhaps also an increased use of suction feeding. In addition to three-dimensional interactive models, our study provides the required quantitative data to permit the generation of accurate biomechanical models allowing the testing of further functional hypotheses.}},
  author       = {{Lowie, Aurélien and De Kegel, Barbara and Wilkinson, Mark and Measey, John and O'Reilly, James C. and Kley, Nathan J. and Gaucher, Philippe and Adriaens, Dominique and Herrel, Anthony}},
  issn         = {{0021-8782}},
  journal      = {{JOURNAL OF ANATOMY}},
  keywords     = {{Cell Biology,Developmental Biology,Molecular Biology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics,Histology,Anatomy,3D model,burrowing,cranial morphology,limbless,muscle architecture,myology,DERMOPHIS-MEXICANUS AMPHIBIA,IDIOCRANIUM-RUSSELI AMPHIBIA,EVOLUTION,MORPHOLOGY,MUSCULATURE,LOCOMOTION,MECHANISM,BEARING,DIET}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{312--326}},
  title        = {{The anatomy of the head muscles in caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) : variation in relation to phylogeny and ecology?}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13763}},
  volume       = {{242}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}

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