Global ETD Search
Search theses and dissertations gathered from participating repositories worldwide. Every result links back to the library that holds it. No account is needed.
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Showing 1 to 8 of 8 for “"Scincidae"”.
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Phylogenetic Systematics and Evolution within the Family Scincidae
Scincidae (skinks) comprise one of the largest families of lizards, and the more than 1300 species show great variation in body size and form, and are found worldwide in a diversity of habitats. The group presents many interesting questions ranging from the colonization of oceanic islands, to the …
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Phylogeny and evolution of Lerista (Lygosominae, Scincidae, Squamata).
In this thesis, I investigate the phylogeny and evolution of Lerista, a clade of more than 75 species of scincid lizards, distributed in arid, semi-arid, and seasonally dry habitats throughout Australia. Among extant tetrapods, Lerista is exceptional in comprising a large number of closely-related …
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Geographic variation and natural selection in Eumeces obsoletus (Reptilia: Sauria: Scincidae)
Thesis (M.A.)--University of Kansas, Department of Systematics and Ecology, 1975.
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Systematics and Species Delimitation in New Guinea Skink Species Complexes (Squamata: Scincidae)
<p>Though among the most controversial topics in systematic and evolutionary biology, species are a fundamental unit in biology, and are utilized by and critical to a wide variety of studies in the life sciences. Despite this importance, little work has focused on developing and examining objective …
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A functional morphological study of limb regression in some Southern African species of Scincidae (Reptilia : Sauria)
… questions are explored in certain species of the Scincidae (from southern Africa) that vary in the degree of limb reduction. This regression series consists of Mabuya capensis (with normal, pentadactyle limbs), Riopa sundevallii (with miniaturized, pentadactyle limbs), three species of the genus …
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Investigating the Patterns of Convergence in Pectoral Girdle Reduction During the Evolution of Limblessness in Lerista (Scincidae)
Over 30 tetrapod groups have evolved a snake-like, elongate, limbless body plan. Studies of the patterns of limb reduction have revealed a close relationship between the reduction of the limbs and body elongation; however, the loss of the skeletal elements that support the limb, the pectoral …
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Seasonal regulation of the circadian rhythms of behavioural temperature selection and locomotor activity in Australian sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa, gray; reptilia: scincidae)
This research project examined the role of environmental time cues and circadian rhythms in mediating seasonal adjustments in the body temperature and locomotoractivity patterns in the Australian sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa (Gray 1827). The first component of this study investigated whether daily …
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On The Cranial Osteology of <em>Eremiascincus</em> and Its Use For Identification.
<p>A persistent problem for Australian paleontology has been a lack of diagnostic characters for identifying lizard fossils. <em>Eremiascincus</em> is one of the most widespread genera in Australia, so it was examined for distinguishing features and how it fits into a model of skink evolution. …