Chapter 6 - Origin of The Amniote Feeding Mechanism: Experimental Analyses of Outgroup Clades

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the origin of the amniotic feeding mechanisms as a key event in the evolution of the vertebrate skull. However, it rather describes feeding systems within various amniotes clades, which have been viewed elsewhere. The analysis is centered on the single general theme and contents. In order to understand amniotic feeding mechanisms and their diversifications, it is essential first to understand the structure and the function of the feeding mechanisms in out-group clades. Thus, it examines the feeding mechanisms of fishes and amphibians as a method of determining the functional traits that are likely to have been primitively present in amniotes, and suggests that further experimental studies of extant amniotes and anmniotes taxa can provide a better understanding of evolution of amniotes and more generally vertebrate feeding mechanisms. Various examples for better understanding of general principles of divergence between aquatic and terrestrial feeding systems are discussed. It further explains many functional attributes of the feeding mechanisms of amniotes.