The earliest segmental sternum in a Permian synapsid and its implications for the evolution of mammalian locomotion and ventilation

Abstract The sternum is a stabilizing element in the axial skeleton of most tetrapods, closely linked with the function of the pectoral girdle of the appendicular skeleton. Modern mammals have a distinctive sternum characterized by multiple ossified segments, the origins of which are poorly understo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eva-Maria Bendel, Christian F. Kammerer, Zhe-Xi Luo, Roger M. H. Smith, Jörg Fröbisch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-17492-6