The septomaxillary of the Amphibia Anura and of the Reptilia. II

The septomaxillary is described in certain anurans and in some of the reptiles in which it occurs. In urodeles and some anurans this bone arises by ossification of the nasal cartilages. Lack of embryological material has prevented the verification of this in the young stages of the reptiles. Adult reptiles have been examined, and in these the bone appears to be and has often been described as a ‘membrane bone.’ It is suggested, however, that the septomaxillary is originally a ‘cartilage bone,’ and that in the reptiles additional membrane bone layers form its main part and obscure its cartilaginous origin. The infolding of the bone in the anurans and reptiles until it lies in close contact with the nasal septum, and thereby loses contact with the external nasal structures, appears to be correlated with the loss of the external nasal muscles. This loss in its turn results from the adoption of terrestrial life and consequent changes in the respiratory mechanism.