Morphology, ecology and evolution of limb reduction in skinks

My thesis focused on how and why of some lizards, specifically skinks, evolve towards short-legged and snakelike body shapes. To accomplish this, I brought together measurements on the body shapes and bones of these lizards along with data on their environment and locomotion. I found that snakelike body shapes have evolved for distinct environmental conditions like sand-swimming, and that intermediate forms with short limbs are not necessarily bound to become legless. Additionally, I established that internal body structures like the inner ears and the girdles are also affected by these changes.