Figure 5: The morphologically derived species with elevated Wnt signalling exhibits accelerated bone development. | Nature Communications

Figure 5: The morphologically derived species with elevated Wnt signalling exhibits accelerated bone development.

From: Wnt signalling underlies the evolution of new phenotypes and craniofacial variability in Lake Malawi cichlids

Figure 5

The craniofacial skeletons of LF (a–c) and MZ (d–f) are depicted from stages 22–24. Lateral views are depicted in (a,b) and (d,e). Dorsal views are shown in (c,f). The initial deposition of bone in the preorbital region of the skull (that is, upper jaw elements) is more intense in LF (a, large arrow) compared with MZ (d, dotted arrow). By stage 24, not only are the upper jaw elements more robustly mineralized in LF (b,c; large arrow) compared with MZ (e,f; dotted arrow), but LF have mineralized several more elements within the anterior region of the skull (b,c) compared with MZ (e,f), including the vomerine process (b,c; white arrowheads) and the margins of the prefrontal bone (b,c; black arrowheads). Scale bars, 500 μm.

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