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Developmental Morphology of Flippers in Sea Turtles and Penguins

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Date Issued:
2006
Summary:
There are no modem anatomical studies of flipper development or particularly any examining limb formation across distantly related taxa converging on similar flipper morphology. This study compares and contrasts the development of flippers in sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and penguin (Spheniscus demersus , Eudyptula minor) embryos. Embryos were fixed, cleared and stained for cartilage anlagen, and prepared as whole mounts. Skeletal elements forming the flipper and changes in their growth rates were described across developmental stages. Results suggest skeletal elements contribute differently to sea turtle and penguin flipper blades and there are significant differences in bone shape and growth patterns. Greater proportional increases in lengths and areas were found in sea turtles elements compared to penguins. Sea turtles appear to depend on a pathway resulting in elongation of distal elements to build a flipper, whereas penguin limbs undergo flattening and expansion of fewer elements to meet a similar structural goal.
Title: Developmental Morphology of Flippers in Sea Turtles and Penguins.
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Name(s): Kwong, Grace W.
Wyneken, Jeanette, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2006
Date Issued: 2006
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, FL
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 62 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: There are no modem anatomical studies of flipper development or particularly any examining limb formation across distantly related taxa converging on similar flipper morphology. This study compares and contrasts the development of flippers in sea turtle (Caretta caretta) and penguin (Spheniscus demersus , Eudyptula minor) embryos. Embryos were fixed, cleared and stained for cartilage anlagen, and prepared as whole mounts. Skeletal elements forming the flipper and changes in their growth rates were described across developmental stages. Results suggest skeletal elements contribute differently to sea turtle and penguin flipper blades and there are significant differences in bone shape and growth patterns. Greater proportional increases in lengths and areas were found in sea turtles elements compared to penguins. Sea turtles appear to depend on a pathway resulting in elongation of distal elements to build a flipper, whereas penguin limbs undergo flattening and expansion of fewer elements to meet a similar structural goal.
Identifier: FA00000784 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2006.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Sea turtles--Physiology
Sea turtles--Morphology
Penguins--Morphology
Animal locomotion
Marine ecology
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000784
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.