Daniel G. Blackburn studied the evolution of viviparity and maternal provisioning in reptiles. A 1984 paper described the skink Mabuya heathi, whose very small eggs and specialized placenta indicated extensive nutrient transfer during pregnancy. Most embryonic growth occurred late in pregnancy, when placental specialization was pronounced.[ref]
The comparison is useful because live birth and the source of embryonic nutrition are different traits. An embryo can be retained in its mother while relying mainly on yolk; this reptile instead exhibited substantial maternal provisioning. Similar physiological problems can therefore favor comparable reproductive specializations in separate evolutionary lineages.
Figure 1.
Portrait of Daniel G. Blackburn
. Identified Trinity College faculty portrait, linked from the biography describing reproductive morphology research. Source.

Tagged

Ancestors (5)

  1. List of evolutionary biologists
  2. Evolutionary biologist
  3. Evolution
  4. Biology
  5. Home

Incoming links (2)

View article source

Discussion (0) New discussion

There are no discussions about this article yet.

Articles by others on the same topic (0)

There are currently no matching articles.
See all articles in the same topic Create my own version