Two Poles of Circularity: Head–Neck and Rump

Abstract

Among vertebrates the common flying dragon Draco volans, of South East Asia, has a unique circular pattern that starts around the neck. This reptile does not fly (as the name states) but only glides. During gliding this species opens up its elongated ribs which are connected by a membrane that is a half circle. Five distinct black bands build semicircles starting at the neck. They are concentric and increase in diameter with increasing distance from the neck. They extend as far as the rump where they terminate.

Sources of Figures

Fig. 11.1 (1) Bramwell, M. (Editor) 1980. The Atlas of World Wildlife. Mitchell Beazley, London, UK (Fig. page 116). (2) Pope, J. 1986. Do Animals Dream? Michael Joseph, London, UK (Fig. page 46).

Fig. 11.2 (1) Wilson, D.E. and Mittermeier, R.A. (Editors) 2009. Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Vol. 1. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain (Vol. 1, Fig. page 124, photograph). (2) Wilson, D.E. and Mittermeier, R.A. (Editors) 2011. Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain (Vol. 2, Fig. page 110, photograph). (3) and (4) del Hoyo, J. et al. (Editors) 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 3. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain (Vol. 3, Plate 33, Nr. 6 and Plate 38, Nr. 41).

Fig. 11.3 (1) and (2) Wilson, D.E. and Mittermeier, R.A. (Editors) 2011. Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain (Fig. Vol. 2, Plate 38, Nr. 131). (3) Wilson, D.E. and Mittermeier, R.A. (Editors) 2011. Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain (Fig. Vol. 2, Plate 35, Nr. 110). (4) del Hoyo, J. et al. (Editors) 2002. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 7. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain (Vol. 7, Fig. F1, page 18). (5) Smith, M.M. and Heemstra, P.C. (Editors) 1986. Smiths’ Sea Fishes. Springer, Berlin [Fig. Plate 73, Nr. 204.9(A)].

Fig. 11.4 (1) Broman, I. 1933. Lärobok i Människans Anatomi. Gleerups, Lund, Sweden (Fig. 37, page 39). (2) and (3) Wilson, D.E. and Mittermeier, R.A. (Editors) 2011. Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain (Fig. Vol. 2, Plate 5, Nr. 6 and photo page 119).

Fig. 11.5 Lima-de-Faria, A. 2012. Molecular Geometry of Body Pattern in Birds. Springer, Berlin, London, UK (Fig. 8.36, page 112).

Fig. 11.6 Original. Graphic representation of body pattern geometry in vertebrates. Not to be reproduced without complete reference to this work.

Fig. 11.7 (1) del Hoyo, J. et al. (Editors) 2001. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 6. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain (Vol. 6, Plate 42, Nr. 46). (2) WIKIMEDIA.org/WIKIPEDIA, commons. (3), (4) and (5) Smith, M.M. and Heemstra, P.C. (Editors) 1986. Smiths’ Sea Fishes. Springer, Berlin (Fig. Plate 24, Nr. 147.4; Plate 33, Nr. 610 and Plate 72, Nr. 204.13).

Fig. 11.8 (1) Smith, J.L.B. 1949. The Sea Fishes of Southern Africa. Central News Agency Ltd., South Africa (Fig. page 156, Plate 10, Nr. 320). (2) Smith, J.L.B. 1949. The Sea Fishes of Southern Africa. Central News Agency Ltd., South Africa (Fig. 485, Plate 23). (3), (4) and (5) Smith, M.M. and Heemstra, P.C. (Editors) 1986. Smiths’ Sea Fishes. Springer, Berlin (Plate 78, Nr. 206.3; Plate 86, Nr. 219.14 and Plate 47, Nr. 174.4). Most of the figures of fishes included in this work were painted by artists having the initials: MMS, DPV and HWBM.