Limb reduction in squamate reptiles correlates with the reduction of the chondrocranium: A case study on serpentiform anguids

Abstract

Taxonomic comparisons indicate that even closely related species with reduced limbs show significant differences in chondrocranial anatomy. The Pearson correlation coefficient suggests strong correlation between chondrocranial reduction and limb reduction. We pose the hypothesis that limb reduction could be associated with the reduction in chondrocrania by means of genetic mechanisms.