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Osteology And Myology Of Phrynosoma P. Platyrhinos Girard And Phrynosoma D. Hernandesi Girard, Richard L. Jenkins, Wilmer W. Tanner

Brigham Young University Science Bulletin, Biological Series

This study confirms the work of Etheridge (1964) in suggesting the peculiarity of the genus Phrynosoma within the family Iguanidae. The anterior osteology and myology of Phrynosoma platyrhinos platyrhinos Girard and Phrynosoma douglassi hernandesi Girard indicate Phrynosoma to be highly specialized and to differ significantlv from the Iguanid structure as portrayed by Oelrich (1956), Robison and Tanner (1962), and Avery and Tanner (1964). They also differ because of: ( 1 ) absence of lacrimal and postfrontal bones; (2) occurrence of occipital (also mandibular and temporal) spines; (3) posterodorsal shift of the skull elements; (4) divided nature of the M. sternohyoideus, …