#  Croc skulls evolved via developmental shifts 

 





February 20, 2019

 

 

- [ News ](/news-categories/news)
 
 

 

 Proud to announce that Zach Morris has published the first chapter of his thesis research! Zach quantified skull shape development across all species of living crocodilians - from embryos to adults. He showed that by tinkering with their developmental strategies, crocodiles have been able to evolve all major ecomorph morphologies - from blunt and wide snouts to long and narrow.

 Morris, Z.S., K.A. Vliet, A. Abzhanov, and S.E. Pierce. 2019. “[Heterochronic shifts and conserved embryonic shape underlie crocodylian craniofacial disparity and convergence](https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2018.2389).” Proceedings of the Royal Society, B, <https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.2389>.

 The research was covered by the [Harvard Gazzette](https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/02/study-examines-how-developmental-changes-modified-the-reptiles-snouts/)!

   ![CrocGazette](/sites/g/files/omnuum5771/files/styles/hwp_1_1__960x960_scale/public/spierce/files/crocgazette.jpg?itok=sqolcu9j) 

 



 

 

 



 

 

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