Figure 7.

Hypothetical changes in IVJ stiffness and RoM with aquatic adaptation in Crocodylomorpha (phylogeny from [52]). Numbers show changes in other axial tissues: (1) sagittal segmentation of the paravertebral shield; (2) procoelous vertebrae; (3) ‘open’ margins of the paravertebral shield; (4) complete loss of osteoderms [21]. NB: procoelous vertebrae and/or loss of osteoderms evolved convergently in Junggarsuchus [7] and a few other crocodylomorph clades as well ([53] and references therein). Some of these hypotheses are sensitive to the phylogenetic placement of Thalattosuchia; see the electronic supplementary material for an alternative phylogeny that places Thalattosuchia outside Crocodyliformes. ML, mediolateral; DV, dorsoventral.