Major Features of Tetrapod Evolution

Tetrapod evolution spans the last 375 million years, beginning with the origin of limbed terrestrial vertebrates from finned fishes. The earliest tetrapods were amphibians that radiated during the Late Paleozoic; only three groups of highly specialized amphibians survive today. The development of an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Princeton Guide to Evolution pp. 174 - 182
Main Author Jenkins, Farish A
Format Book Chapter
LanguageEnglish
Published Princeton Princeton University Press 04.11.2013
Subjects
Amphibians
Anatomy
Animals
Biological sciences
Biology
Birds
Body tissues
Bones
Connective tissues
Digestive system
Dinosaurs
Evolution
Evolutionary biology
Evolutionary studies
Lizards
Mammals
Mouth
Paleobiology
Paleontology
Reptiles
Skull
Snakes
Teeth
Zoology
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Summary:Tetrapod evolution spans the last 375 million years, beginning with the origin of limbed terrestrial vertebrates from finned fishes. The earliest tetrapods were amphibians that radiated during the Late Paleozoic; only three groups of highly specialized amphibians survive today. The development of an amniotic egg provided novel mechanisms to enhance embryonic growth and allowed eggs to be laid on land. Amniotes came to dominate Mesozoic and Cenozoic terrestrial faunas worldwide, generated powered aerial flight three times, reverted to aquatic habitats and the marine realm repeatedly, created endothermic temperature controls, evolved limbs for running, digging, and climbing, flew in water with
ISBN:9780691149776
0691149771
DOI:10.1515/9781400848065-024