What's so special about squamates?

摘要

The study of the morphological structure of squa-mates (lizards and snakes) has been a popular subject among doctors, morphologists, herpetologists, and paleontologists for more than three centuries. Some of the earliest known technical studies of these organisms focused on vipers and the medical aspects associated with envenomation (e.g., Charas, 1669; Tyson, 1683). In fact, most early works on reptile biology were medically oriented and written by physicians. But today, scientists with diverse backgrounds and research interests study these organisms. Current squamate research encompasses evolutionary history, climate change, and space materials, to mention a few. Squamate morphology is studied primarily by herpetologists and paleontologists. Yet despite the overlapping interests of these two groups and the large amount of morphological literature produced in recent years, it is uncommon to find members of these communities working side by side. Herpetologists and paleontologists tend to publish in different specialized journals and attend separate scientific meetings. Many of them are, regrettably, not even aware of the work of members of the other community! (although this varies and depends on each researcher's bibliographic "appetite").