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GEL107: PALEOBIOLOGY
Lecture 14: Functional Morphology
Ⅱ
What can we say abut the evolution of large
crusing vertebrates?
What can we say about the jaw mechanism in
fossil vertebrates?
What can we say about the flight function of
pterosaurs?
How can we interpret function in fossils?
What can we say about the vision in trilobites?
Interpreting the function of fossils
1. Comparison with modern analogs
Phylogenetic vs. functional analog
Dinosauria
Pterosauria
Crocodilia
Archosauria
Evolution of Flight
Diapsida
Anapsida
Reptilia
Lepidosauria
Amniota
Tetrapoda
Synapsida
Amphibia
Pterosauria
Archosauria
Tetrapoda
Synapsida
Dinosauria
Phylogenetic
analog
Functional
analog
Bird
Pterosaur
pectoralis
pectoralis
supracoracoideus
supracoracoideus
deltoideus
Flight muscle comparison
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