Armored skin resulting from the presence of bony dermal structures, osteoderms, is an exceptional phenotype in gekkotans (geckos and flap‐footed lizards) only known to occur in three genera:
Osteoderms constitute a morphological system that plays an important role in squamate systematics. However, their study and visualization have always been difficult due to their isolated occurrence in the skin, among the first organs to be removed during the skeletonization process. High‐resolution X‐ray computed tomography (HRXCT) offers a nondestructive means of visualizing osteoderms both in their natural relationship to each other and to the underlying cranial bones. Although it is often stated that
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10460612
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Anatomical Record
- Volume:
- 302
- Issue:
- 10
- ISSN:
- 1932-8486
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 1675-1680
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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