diapsid

Examples of diapsid in the following topics:

• Evolution of Amniotes

  • Sauropsids include reptiles and birds and can be further divided into anapsids and diapsids.
  • Anapsids have no temporal fenestrae, synapsids have one, and diapsids have two.
  • The diapsids include birds and all other living and extinct reptiles.
  • The image illustrates the differences in the skulls and temporal fenestrae of anapsids, synapsids, and diapsids.
  • Anapsids have no openings, synapsids have one opening, and diapsids have two openings.

• Evolution of Reptiles

  • Soon after the first amniotes appeared, they diverged into three groups (synapsids, anapsids, and diapsids) during the Permian period.
  • The Permian period also saw a second major divergence of diapsid reptiles into archosaurs (predecessors of crocodilians and dinosaurs) and lepidosaurs (predecessors of snakes and lizards).

• Evolution of Birds

  • Birds are diapsids, meaning they have two fenestrations, or openings, in their skulls.
  • Birds belong to a group of diapsids called the archosaurs, which also includes crocodiles and dinosaurs.