Comparative anatomy
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| - | A '''legendary creature''' is a [[mythology|mythological]] or [[folklore|folkloric]] [[creature]] (often known as "[[fabulous]] creatures" in historical literature). Some creatures, such as the [[dragon]] or the [[griffin]], have their origin in traditional [[mythology]] and have been believed to be real creatures. Others were based on real creatures, originating in [[garbled]] accounts of travelers' tales; such as the [[Vegetable Lamb of Tartary]], which supposedly grew tethered to the earth (and was actually a type of [[fern]]). The traditional [[unicorn]] may have come from garbled stories about the [[rhinoceros]] and/or [[narwhal]]. Examples of the legendary creatures can be found in [[medieval]] [[bestiary|bestiaries]]. | ||
| - | Conversely, some creatures downplayed as just storytelling, have been rediscovered and found to be real in recent times, such as the [[giant squid]]. In Africa, Natives of the Congo told European visitors of an animal that looked like a cross between a zebra and a giraffe. While the visitors assumed the stories were just folk tales, in 1901, Sir Harry Johnston brought back pelts that proved the creature, which we now call the [[okapi]], was real. | + | '''Comparative anatomy''' is the study of similarities and differences in the [[anatomy]] of [[organism]]s. It is closely related to [[evolutionary biology]] and [[phylogeny]] (the [[evolution]] of species). |
| - | Often mythical creatures are ''[[Chimera (creature)|chimeras]]'', a combination of two or more animals. For example, a [[centaur]] is a combination of a man and horse, a [[minotaur]] of a man and bull, and the [[mermaid]], half woman and half fish. It should be noted that these were not always intended to be understood as literal juxtapositions of parts from disparate species. Lacking a common [[Comparative anatomy|morphological vocabulary]], classical and medieval scholars and travelers would attempt to describe unusual animals by comparing them point-for-point with familiar: the [[giraffe]], for example, was called ''cameleopard'', and thought of as a creature half-[[camel]], and half-[[leopard]]. The leopard itself was so named as it was historically believed to be a half-[[lion]] (Latin: "leo") and half-[[panther]] (Latin: "pardus"). This etymology has been kept until the present day, despite its zoological inaccuracies. | + | ==Description== |
| + | Two major concepts of comparative anatomy are: | ||
| + | # [[homology (biology)|Homologous structures]] - structures (body parts/anatomy) which are similar in different species because the species have [[common descent]]. They may or may not perform the same function. An example is the forelimb structure shared by [[cat]]s and [[whales]]. | ||
| + | # [[Analogy (biology)|Analogous structures]] - structures which are similar in different organisms because they evolved in a ''similar environment'', rather than were inherited from a recent common ancestor. They usually serve the same or similar purposes. An example is the torpedo body shape of [[porpoise]]s and [[shark]]s. It evolved in a water environment, but the animals have different ancestors. | ||
| - | Many legendary creatures appear prominently in [[fantasy fiction]]. These creatures are often claimed to have supernatural powers or knowledge or to guard some object of great value, which becomes critical to the plot of the story in which it is found. Dragons, for instance, are commonly depicted as perched on a gleaming hoard of gold which becomes the target of adventurers. | + | The rules for development of ''special'' characteristics which differ significantly from general homology were listed by [[Karl Ernst von Baer]] (the Baer laws). |
| - | Other legendary creatures are thought to exist even today including [[Bigfoot]], [[Mothman]], [[Chupacabras]] and the [[Loch Ness Monster]]. | + | ==History== |
| - | + | [[Edward Tyson]] is regarded as the founder of comparative anatomy. He is credited with determining that marine mammals are, in fact, mammals. Also, he concluded that [[chimpanzee]]s are more similar to humans than to [[monkey]]s because of their arms. | |
| - | Throughout history legendary creatures have been incorporated into [[heraldry]] and [[architecture|architectural]] [[decoration]]. Legendary creatures have also been accepted into many facets of [[popular culture]] most notably in fantasy [[role playing]] games such as [[Dungeons & Dragons]] or [[Everquest]], [[video games]], [[Hollywood]] movies and [[power metal]] bands (such as [[DragonForce]]). | + | [[Marco Aurelio Severino]] also compared various animals, including birds, in his ''Zootomia democritaea'', one of the first works of comparative anatomy. In the 18th and 19th century, great anatomists like [[George Cuvier]], [[Richard Owen]] and [[Thomas Henry Huxley]] revolutionized our understanding of the basic build and [[systematics]] of [[vertebrates]], laying the foundation for [[Charles Darwin]]s work on [[evolution]]. Until the advent of genetic techniques like [[DNA sequencing]], comparative anatomy together with [[embryology]] were the primary tools for understanding [[phylogeny]], as exemplified by the work of [[Alfred Romer]]. |
| - | == See also == | + | |
| - | * [[Fearsome critters]] | + | |
| - | * [[List of cryptids]] | + | |
| - | * [[List of fictional species]] | + | |
| - | * [[List of legendary creatures]] | + | |
| - | * [[List of legendary creatures from Japan]] | + | |
| - | * [[List of monsters]] | + | |
| - | * [[Legendary creatures of the Argentine Northwest region]] | + | |
| - | * [[An instinct for dragons]], a hypothesis on the origin of several legendary creatures | + | |
| - | * [[Book of Imaginary Beings]] | + | |
| + | Today comparative anatomy is still taught and used, particularly in the field of [[paleontology]]. | ||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Cladistics]] | ||
| + | *[[Phylogenetics]] | ||
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Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny (the evolution of species).
[edit]
Description
Two major concepts of comparative anatomy are:
- Homologous structures - structures (body parts/anatomy) which are similar in different species because the species have common descent. They may or may not perform the same function. An example is the forelimb structure shared by cats and whales.
- Analogous structures - structures which are similar in different organisms because they evolved in a similar environment, rather than were inherited from a recent common ancestor. They usually serve the same or similar purposes. An example is the torpedo body shape of porpoises and sharks. It evolved in a water environment, but the animals have different ancestors.
The rules for development of special characteristics which differ significantly from general homology were listed by Karl Ernst von Baer (the Baer laws).
[edit]
History
Edward Tyson is regarded as the founder of comparative anatomy. He is credited with determining that marine mammals are, in fact, mammals. Also, he concluded that chimpanzees are more similar to humans than to monkeys because of their arms. Marco Aurelio Severino also compared various animals, including birds, in his Zootomia democritaea, one of the first works of comparative anatomy. In the 18th and 19th century, great anatomists like George Cuvier, Richard Owen and Thomas Henry Huxley revolutionized our understanding of the basic build and systematics of vertebrates, laying the foundation for Charles Darwins work on evolution. Until the advent of genetic techniques like DNA sequencing, comparative anatomy together with embryology were the primary tools for understanding phylogeny, as exemplified by the work of Alfred Romer.
Today comparative anatomy is still taught and used, particularly in the field of paleontology.
[edit]
See also
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Comparative anatomy" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
