Estimating maturity in fossil squamates

Abstract:

Accurate estimates of relative maturity in fossil vertebrates is critical for determining whether a series of specimens represents an ontogenetic series of one species or individuals of different species. Although body size is a potential indicator of maturity, it is not necessarily accurate and has sometimes led to mistaken observations. Terminal fusions between skeletal elements can be used as a size-independent criterion to estimate specimen maturity. The author examined the relationship between terminal fusions and sexual and skeletal maturity upon study of postnatal skeletal development of 21 extant species of lizards. Fusions were considered to be correlated with sexual maturity if their completion fell within 10% of average size at sexual maturity. Percentage of maximum size at which terminal fusions occurred was used to denote the relationship between fusions and skeletal maturity. The author found that …

Año de publicación:

2003

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Fuente:

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