Major and Minor Scales: A Survey of Scale Morphology Across Squamate Reptiles

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dc.contributor.advisorDaza Vaca, Juan D
dc.contributor.committeeMemberUlseth, Amber J
dc.contributor.committeeMemberCampbell, Timothy L
dc.contributor.committeeMemberRandle, Christopher P
dc.creatorDoucet, Daniel Sean
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-04T17:08:39Z
dc.date.available2024-01-04T17:08:39Z
dc.date.created2022-12
dc.date.issuedDecember 2022
dc.date.submittedDecember 2022
dc.date.updated2024-01-04T17:08:39Z
dc.description.abstractMorphological diversity in squamate reptiles is well documented. Variation in diet habits, locomotion, habitat use, and many other behaviors has led to the radiation of one of the most speciose vertebrate groups. Despite large studies using osteological, physiological, and genomic data to infer phylogenies of the monophyletic order Squamata, the use of integumentary characters has been few and far between. This investigation serves as a preliminary foray into the possible use of scale morphology to address phylogenetic questions. One hundred and fifty three taxa including members from each of the 67 squamate families were scored for 180 integumentary characters. Among these 180 characters, 81 were from a previous study and 99 new characters were proposed. Only 159 of the 180 characters were applied in the analysis. Use of digital microscopy and high-resolution 3D imaging assisted in scoring. It was found that some of these traits may provide discrimination among higher-level clades on a morphospace. Multiple Correspondence Analysis was used to identify character state contribution to the variation seen in the dataset, as well as plot taxa in morphospace. Ancestral state reconstruction of key characters also gives confidence that certain characters may help identify trends in recent squamate evolution. Clades tend to share similar overlap pattern, scale distribution, and often three-dimensional texture of the scale. Use of these data may also resolve the uncertain placement of some fossilized lizards in amber which retain their integument.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.uri
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11875/4303
dc.language.isoEnglish
dc.subjectBiology, Zoology
dc.titleMajor and Minor Scales: A Survey of Scale Morphology Across Squamate Reptiles
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialtext
local.embargo.lift12/01/2023
local.embargo.terms12/01/2023
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Science and Engineering Technology
thesis.degree.departmentBiological Sciences
thesis.degree.disciplineBiology
thesis.degree.grantorSam Houston State University
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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