STUDIES ON SKELETON FORMATION IN REPTILES - PATTERNS OF OSSIFICATION IN THE LIMB SKELETON OF GEHYRA-OCEANICA (LESSON) AND LEPIDODACTYLUS-LUGUBRIS (DUMERIL AND BIBRON)

The sequence and pattern of ossification in the limb skeleton of Gehyr a oceanica and Lepidodactylus lugubris is described and compared with that of other reptiles. Whereas patterns of ossification may be differ ent between taxa, they appear highly constrained within the two geckos analyzed. This study provides further evidence for the independence o f ossification process from chondrification processes. It also present s an example for ontogenetic repatterning whereby delayed ossification of an element (2nd phalanx in digit IV) precedes evolutionary loss of the same element in related species.