Morphology
Introduction
Although we live in an age of comparative genomics, morphological data will be indispensable for constructing the best tree of life possible for the neogastropoda. Morphology provides a means for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships between modern and almost all fossil taxa. Fossils provide direct information about divergence times, as well as a window into those portions of the tree of life now extinct. Because such lineages may be ecologically and morphologically distinct from any organisms living today, the accurate reconstruction of character state transitions may not be possible without considering such extinct lineages. In general, the analysis of fossil taxa should clarify relationships between living taxa (Hillis 2000).
A major theme for the evolutionary radiation within the Neogastropoda has been morphological change in the feeding system, specifically the radula, foregut glands, and proboscis structure. Recent work by Page (2005) and Hebert (2006) indicates that investigations of foregut and radular modifications during development will be especially helpful for identifying homologous structures across taxa.
Images
References
Herbert, G. S., Merle, D., and Gallardo, C. S. (2006). " A developmental perspective on evolutionary innovation in the radula of the predatory Neogastropod family Muricidae. American Malacological Bulletin, In Press.
Hillis, D. M. and Wiens, J. J. (2000). "Molecular versus morphological systematics: Conflicts, artifacts, and misconceptions". Phylogenetic analysis of morphological data. J. J. Wiens ed. Washington, D.C., Smithsonian Institution Press: 1-19.
Page, L. R. (2005). "Development of foregut and proboscis in the buccinid neogastropod Nassarius mendicus: evolutionary opportunity exploited by a developmental module." Journal of Morphology 264: 327-338.
Thanks to:
Outreach Collaborators:
Becky Menlove
Ephriam, Dickson
Utah Museum of Natural History
Citing this page
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B Olivera, G Herbert, G Vermeij, and M Holford. 2006. NeogastropodToL. Version 1 April 2006 http://www.neogastropodtol.org
All images and videos on the www.neogastropodtol.org website are copyrighted and not to be used without written permission from the authors, Olivera, Vermeij, Herbert, or other parties listed for contact.
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For permission to use images or content please contact Mandė Holford (holford@biology.utah.edu)
Website developed by: Baldomero Olivera, Herbert Gregory, Geerat Vermeij, Mande Holford, Julia Harrison and Jason Briggs.
