Synapsids
by Corinne I.
Synapsids are very well known, however the evolutionary advantage of having a synapsid is unidentified. Synapsids are (mostly) mammals with holes in their skull behind the eye socket; these holes also are connected to the jaw muscles. Humans are in the synapsid group too. Today, the hole behind a human’s eye socket is called a temple. The cladogram of vertebrates Mr. G’s science class is painting and constructing on the ceiling has a lot of synapsids too. The groups of vertebrates with holes behind their eye sockets include the Dimetrodon, the Thylacosmilus, the Anteater, the Rabbit, the Bat, the Lemur, the Whale, the Horse, the Mammoth, the Hylochoerus Meinertzhageni, and the Irish Elk. When an animal acquires this trait, it has an unidentified advantage. One guess at the benefit of retaining a hole behind your eye socket, or being a synapsid, is that because the jaw muscles pass through the hole gives the impression that it helps animals have a wider range to chew with for a more advanced chewing system, and better space to consume bigger meals. However, the trait of having a hole behind your eye socket I bet is in fact significant if it’s a trait that’s been passed on for generations!
Last updated April 7, 2007.