Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-77c78cf97d-v4t4b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-04-25T01:40:09.217Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

13 - Links between Thyroid Hormone Alterations and Developmental Changes in the Evolution of the Weberian Apparatus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 December 2018

Zerina Johanson
Affiliation:
Natural History Museum, London
Charlie Underwood
Affiliation:
Birkbeck, University of London
Martha Richter
Affiliation:
Natural History Museum, London
Get access

Summary

The Weberian apparatus (WA), a structure consisting of the greatly modified four anteriormost vertebral elements, enhances the hearing in Otophysi. Since WA is one of the most spectacular examples of vertebral column transformation and regionalization, the mechanisms underpinning WA origin and evolution have received considerable attention. A number of hypotheses exist, but a consensus has not been reached, primarily due to the relative paucity of experimental data. One of the most plausible propositions concerning the leading role of specific developmental changes in WA evolution, likely constituting differences in gene expression, was offered by Bird and Hernandez (2009). Here, we provide an analysis of developmental and morphological data obtained from experiments with cyprinids, in which developmental deviations were caused by induced hypo- and hyperthyroidism. The synthesis of our results with morphological and developmental data obtained in different teleosts empirically demonstrates the involvement of different developmental changes in WA evolution. Moreover, our results emphasize the potential role of thyroid signaling pathway in bony fish (Osteichthyes) evolution, including the origin of various types of morphological novelties.

Information

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×