The phylogeny of anguinomorph lizards

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The book explores the classification and phylogeny of various lizard families, focusing on their head musculature and skull structures. It begins with an abstract and outlines the methods used for classification, addressing terminology issues and the general structure of lacertilian jaw musculature. Specific sections delve into the head musculature of Gerrhonotinae, Diploglossinae, and Anguinae, highlighting patterns of variation within these groups. The evolution of the M. intermandibularis anterior in Anguidae is examined, along with a phylogenetic analysis based on head musculature. Further sections detail the head musculature of Shinisaurus crocodilurus, Xenosaurus grandis, Anniella pulchra, Heloderma, Varanus, and Lanthanotus borneensis, assessing their phylogenetic positions. The skull structures of various families, including Anguidae, Xenosauridae, Anniellidae, Helodermatidae, Lanthanotidae, and Varanidae, are analyzed, along with the atlas-axis complex. The text concludes with a discussion on the phylogenetic relationships of Lanthanotus, an inquiry into the fossil record, and the classification of Anguinomorpha. The outlook section speculates on the origin of snakes, and the book includes acknowledgements, references, and appendices for further detail.