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Nagashima A, Torii K, Ota C, Kato A. slc26a12-A novel member of the slc26 family, is located in tandem with slc26a2 in coelacanths, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Physiol Rep 2024; 12:e16089. [PMID: 38828713 PMCID: PMC11145369 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.16089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Solute carrier family 26 (Slc26) is a family of anion exchangers with 11 members in mammals (named Slc26a1-a11). Here, we identified a novel member of the slc26 family, slc26a12, located in tandem with slc26a2 in the genomes of several vertebrate lineages. BLAST and synteny analyses of various jawed vertebrate genome databases revealed that slc26a12 is present in coelacanths, amphibians, reptiles, and birds but not in cartilaginous fishes, lungfish, mammals, or ray-finned fishes. In some avian and reptilian lineages such as owls, penguins, egrets, and ducks, and most turtles examined, slc26a12 was lost or pseudogenized. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Slc26a12 formed an independent branch with the other Slc26 members and Slc26a12, Slc26a1 and Slc26a2 formed a single branch, suggesting that these three members formed a subfamily in Slc26. In jawless fish, hagfish have two genes homologous to slc26a2 and slc26a12, whereas lamprey has a single gene homologous to slc26a2. African clawed frogs express slc26a12 in larval gills, skin, and fins. These results show that slc26a12 was present at least before the separation of lobe-finned fish and tetrapods; the name slc26a12 is appropriate because the gene duplication occurred in the distant past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayumi Nagashima
- School of Life Science and TechnologyTokyo Institute of TechnologyYokohamaJapan
| | - Kota Torii
- School of Life Science and TechnologyTokyo Institute of TechnologyYokohamaJapan
| | - Chihiro Ota
- School of Life Science and TechnologyTokyo Institute of TechnologyYokohamaJapan
| | - Akira Kato
- School of Life Science and TechnologyTokyo Institute of TechnologyYokohamaJapan
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Li Y, Liu Y, Zheng J, Wu B, Cui X, Xu W, Zhu C, Qiu Q, Wang K. A chromosome-level genome assembly of the pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta). Sci Data 2024; 11:311. [PMID: 38521795 PMCID: PMC10960847 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03157-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) represents the only extant species within the Carettochelyidae family, is a unique Trionychia member fully adapted to aquatic life and currently facing endangerment. To enhance our understanding of this species and contribute to its conservation efforts, we employed high-fidelity (HiFi) and Hi-C sequencing technology to generate its genome assembly at the chromosome level. The assembly result spans 2.18 Gb, with a contig N50 of 126 Mb, encompassing 34 chromosomes that account for 99.6% of the genome. The assembly has a BUSCO score above 95% with different databases and strong collinearity with Yangtze giant softshell turtles (Rafetus swinhoei), indicating its completeness and continuity. A total of 19,175 genes and 46.86% repetitive sequences were annotated. The availability of this chromosome-scale genome represents a valuable resource for the pig-nosed turtle, providing insights into its aquatic adaptation and serving as a foundation for future turtle research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Li
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Yuxuan Liu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Jiangmin Zheng
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Baosheng Wu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Xinxin Cui
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Wenjie Xu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Chenglong Zhu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Qiang Qiu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China.
| | - Kun Wang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China.
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Zdyrski C, Gabriel V, Gessler TB, Ralston A, Sifuentes-Romero I, Kundu D, Honold S, Wickham H, Topping NE, Sahoo DK, Bista B, Tamplin J, Ospina O, Piñeyro P, Arriaga M, Galan JA, Meyerholz DK, Allenspach K, Mochel JP, Valenzuela N. Establishment and characterization of turtle liver organoids provides a potential model to decode their unique adaptations. Commun Biol 2024; 7:218. [PMID: 38388772 PMCID: PMC10883927 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05818-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Painted turtles are remarkable for their freeze tolerance and supercooling ability along with their associated resilience to hypoxia/anoxia and oxidative stress, rendering them an ideal biomedical model for hypoxia-induced injuries (including strokes), tissue cooling during surgeries, and organ cryopreservation. Yet, such research is hindered by their seasonal reproduction and slow maturation. Here we developed and characterized adult stem cell-derived turtle liver organoids (3D self-assembled in vitro structures) from painted, snapping, and spiny softshell turtles spanning ~175My of evolution, with a subset cryopreserved. This development is, to the best of our knowledge, a first for this vertebrate Order, and complements the only other non-avian reptile organoids from snake venom glands. Preliminary characterization, including morphological, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses, revealed organoids enriched in cholangiocytes. Deriving organoids from distant turtles and life stages demonstrates that our techniques are broadly applicable to chelonians, permitting the development of functional genomic tools currently lacking in herpetological research. Such platform could potentially support studies including genome-to-phenome mapping, gene function, genome architecture, and adaptive responses to climate change, with implications for ecological, evolutionary, and biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Zdyrski
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
- 3D Health Solutions Inc., Ames, IA, USA.
- SMART Pharmacology, Precision One Health Initiative, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Vojtech Gabriel
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Thea B Gessler
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Itzel Sifuentes-Romero
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Debosmita Kundu
- Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Sydney Honold
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Hannah Wickham
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Nicholas E Topping
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Dipak Kumar Sahoo
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Basanta Bista
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Jeffrey Tamplin
- Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, USA
| | - Oscar Ospina
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Pablo Piñeyro
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Marco Arriaga
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | - Jacob A Galan
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | | | - Karin Allenspach
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- 3D Health Solutions Inc., Ames, IA, USA
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- SMART Pharmacology, Precision One Health Initiative, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jonathan P Mochel
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
- 3D Health Solutions Inc., Ames, IA, USA
- SMART Pharmacology, Precision One Health Initiative, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Nicole Valenzuela
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
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Antonio Baeza J, Rajapakse D, Pearson L, Kreiser BR. Low coverage sequencing provides insights into the key features of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of the Alligator Snapping Turtle Macrochelys temminckii. Gene 2023; 873:147478. [PMID: 37182558 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The alligator snapping turtle Macrochelys temminckii is a culturally, ecologically, and evolutionary relevant species of conservation concern. In this study, we conducted a genome survey of M. temminckii. Using a low-coverage short read sequencing strategy, this study estimated the genome size, repetitive genome content, annotated and quantified repetitive elements, assembled the 45S rRNA DNA operon, and characterized in detail the mitochondrial genome of M. temminckii. Using a k-mer strategy, the estimated haploid genome size varied between 3.77 and 3.19 Gbp, which is within the range previously reported for other representatives of the family Chelydridae. Repetitive genome content estimates using different k-mers (21 to 51) indicated that more than 75% of the genome of M. temminckii comprised repetitive elements. Taking into account only annotated repetitive elements, the most common repetitive elements were classified as Class I - Long Interspersed Nuclear Element (LINE) which were more abundant than Class I - Penelope and Class I - Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) Ty3-gypsy mobile elements. Less abundant repeat element families in the nuclear genome of M. temminckii included Class I - DIRS mobile elements and Satellite DNA. The nuclear ribosomal operon was partially assembled into two contigs, one encoding the complete ssrDNA and a second comprising the full lsrDNA. The AT-rich complete mitochondrial genome was 16,570 bp long. These new genomic resources are of utmost importance to aid in the development of conservation plans for this freshwater turtle.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Antonio Baeza
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA; Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Catolica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile; Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Smithsonian Institution, Fort Pierce, FL, USA.
| | - Dilani Rajapakse
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Luke Pearson
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi Ecological Services Field Office, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Jackson, MS 39213
| | - Brian R Kreiser
- School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406 USA
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Genome Evolution and the Future of Phylogenomics of Non-Avian Reptiles. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030471. [PMID: 36766360 PMCID: PMC9913427 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-avian reptiles comprise a large proportion of amniote vertebrate diversity, with squamate reptiles-lizards and snakes-recently overtaking birds as the most species-rich tetrapod radiation. Despite displaying an extraordinary diversity of phenotypic and genomic traits, genomic resources in non-avian reptiles have accumulated more slowly than they have in mammals and birds, the remaining amniotes. Here we review the remarkable natural history of non-avian reptiles, with a focus on the physical traits, genomic characteristics, and sequence compositional patterns that comprise key axes of variation across amniotes. We argue that the high evolutionary diversity of non-avian reptiles can fuel a new generation of whole-genome phylogenomic analyses. A survey of phylogenetic investigations in non-avian reptiles shows that sequence capture-based approaches are the most commonly used, with studies of markers known as ultraconserved elements (UCEs) especially well represented. However, many other types of markers exist and are increasingly being mined from genome assemblies in silico, including some with greater information potential than UCEs for certain investigations. We discuss the importance of high-quality genomic resources and methods for bioinformatically extracting a range of marker sets from genome assemblies. Finally, we encourage herpetologists working in genomics, genetics, evolutionary biology, and other fields to work collectively towards building genomic resources for non-avian reptiles, especially squamates, that rival those already in place for mammals and birds. Overall, the development of this cross-amniote phylogenomic tree of life will contribute to illuminate interesting dimensions of biodiversity across non-avian reptiles and broader amniotes.
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Ruhr I, Bierstedt J, Rhen T, Das D, Singh SK, Miller S, Crossley DA, Galli GLJ. Developmental programming of DNA methylation and gene expression patterns is associated with extreme cardiovascular tolerance to anoxia in the common snapping turtle. Epigenetics Chromatin 2021; 14:42. [PMID: 34488850 PMCID: PMC8420019 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-021-00414-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Environmental fluctuation during embryonic and fetal development can permanently alter an organism’s morphology, physiology, and behaviour. This phenomenon, known as developmental plasticity, is particularly relevant to reptiles that develop in subterranean nests with variable oxygen tensions. Previous work has shown hypoxia permanently alters the cardiovascular system of snapping turtles and may improve cardiac anoxia tolerance later in life. The mechanisms driving this process are unknown but may involve epigenetic regulation of gene expression via DNA methylation. To test this hypothesis, we assessed in situ cardiac performance during 2 h of acute anoxia in juvenile turtles previously exposed to normoxia (21% oxygen) or hypoxia (10% oxygen) during embryogenesis. Next, we analysed DNA methylation and gene expression patterns in turtles from the same cohorts using whole genome bisulfite sequencing, which represents the first high-resolution investigation of DNA methylation patterns in any reptilian species. Results Genome-wide correlations between CpG and CpG island methylation and gene expression patterns in the snapping turtle were consistent with patterns observed in mammals. As hypothesized, developmental hypoxia increased juvenile turtle cardiac anoxia tolerance and programmed DNA methylation and gene expression patterns. Programmed differences in expression of genes such as SCN5A may account for differences in heart rate, while genes such as TNNT2 and TPM3 may underlie differences in calcium sensitivity and contractility of cardiomyocytes and cardiac inotropy. Finally, we identified putative transcription factor-binding sites in promoters and in differentially methylated CpG islands that suggest a model linking programming of DNA methylation during embryogenesis to differential gene expression and cardiovascular physiology later in life. Binding sites for hypoxia inducible factors (HIF1A, ARNT, and EPAS1) and key transcription factors activated by MAPK and BMP signaling (RREB1 and SMAD4) are implicated. Conclusions Our data strongly suggests that DNA methylation plays a conserved role in the regulation of gene expression in reptiles. We also show that embryonic hypoxia programs DNA methylation and gene expression patterns and that these changes are associated with enhanced cardiac anoxia tolerance later in life. Programming of cardiac anoxia tolerance has major ecological implications for snapping turtles, because these animals regularly exploit anoxic environments throughout their lifespan. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13072-021-00414-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilan Ruhr
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK
| | - Jacob Bierstedt
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Turk Rhen
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA.
| | - Debojyoti Das
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Sunil Kumar Singh
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Soleille Miller
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA
| | - Dane A Crossley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 76203, USA
| | - Gina L J Galli
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK
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Rhen T, Even Z, Brenner A, Lodewyk A, Das D, Singh S, Simmons R. Evolutionary Turnover in Wnt Gene Expression but Conservation of Wnt Signaling during Ovary Determination in a TSD Reptile. Sex Dev 2021; 15:47-68. [PMID: 34280932 DOI: 10.1159/000516973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) is a well-known characteristic of many reptilian species. However, the molecular processes linking ambient temperature to determination of gonad fate remain hazy. Here, we test the hypothesis that Wnt expression and signaling differ between female- and male-producing temperatures in the snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina. Canonical Wnt signaling involves secretion of glycoproteins called WNTs, which bind to and activate membrane bound receptors that trigger β-catenin stabilization and translocation to the nucleus where β-catenin interacts with TCF/LEF transcription factors to regulate expression of Wnt targets. Non-canonical Wnt signaling occurs via 2 pathways that are independent of β-catenin: one involves intracellular calcium release (the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway), while the other involves activation of RAC1, JNK, and RHOA (the Wnt/planar cell polarity pathway). We screened 20 Wnt genes for differential expression between female- and male-producing temperatures during sex determination in the snapping turtle. Exposure of embryos to the female-producing temperature decreased expression of 7 Wnt genes but increased expression of 2 Wnt genes and Rspo1 relative to embryos at the male-producing temperature. Temperature also regulated expression of putative Wnt target genes in vivo and a canonical Wnt reporter (6x TCF/LEF sites drive H2B-GFP expression) in embryonic gonadal cells in vitro. Results indicate that Wnt signaling was higher at the female- than at the male-producing temperature. Evolutionary analyses of all 20 Wnt genes revealed that thermosensitive Wnts, as opposed to insensitive Wnts, were less likely to show evidence of positive selection and experienced stronger purifying selection within TSD species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turk Rhen
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Zachary Even
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Alaina Brenner
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Alexandra Lodewyk
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Debojyoti Das
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Sunil Singh
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Rebecca Simmons
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
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Cordero GA. Disentangling the correlated evolution of body size, life history, and ontogeny in miniaturized chelydroid turtles. Evol Dev 2021; 23:439-458. [PMID: 34037309 DOI: 10.1111/ede.12386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Organismal miniaturization is defined by a reduction in body size relative to a large ancestor. In vertebrate animals, miniaturization is achieved by suppressing the energetics of growth. However, this might interfere with reproductive strategies in egg-laying species with limited energy budgets for embryo growth and differentiation. In general, the extent to which miniaturization coincides with alterations in animal development remains obscure. To address the interplay among body size, life history, and ontogeny, miniaturization in chelydroid turtles was examined. The analyses corroborated that miniaturization in the Chelydroidea clade is underlain by a dampening of the ancestral growth trajectory. There were no associated shifts in the early sequence of developmental transformations, though the relative duration of organogenesis was shortened in miniaturized embryos. The size of eggs, hatchlings, and adults was positively correlated within Chelydroidea. A phylogenetically broader exploration revealed an alternative miniaturization mode wherein exceptionally large hatchlings grow minimally and thus attain diminutive adult sizes. Lastly, it is shown that miniaturized Chelydroidea turtles undergo accelerated ossification coupled with a ~10% reduction in shell bones. As in other vertebrates, the effects of miniaturization were not systemic, possibly owing to opposing functional demands and tissue geometric constraints. This underscores the integrated and hierarchical nature of developmental systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo A Cordero
- Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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