Emma Sherratt - Evolutionary Biologist
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  • Quantitative Morphology Group
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Latest publication!

Patterns of intracolumnar size variation inform the heterochronic mechanisms underlying extreme body shape divergence in microcephalic sea snakes.
​Sherratt, E., Sanders, K.L. (2019b) Evolution & Development, doi:10.1111/ede.12328. here
Data available here
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This paper is the second of two Evolution & Development papers (2019a & 2019b) examining the mechanisms behind diversity of sea snake vertebral columns. 

In this paper we show that the unique body shape of microcephalic sea snakes arises from an increased number of small vertebrae in the forebody (above the heart), which arises in very early development such that neonates are born with this morphotype. From this we hypothesise on the presence of hox boundaries near the heart, and heterochronic changes in segmentation cause this body shape to develop. 

Publications

Macroevolutionary Inferences

Snakes

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Heterochronic shifts mediate ecomorphological convergence in sea snake skull shape. ​
Sherratt, E., Sanders, K.L., Watson, A., Hutchinson, M.N., Lee, M.S.Y, Palci, A. (2019) Integrative and Comparative Biology, here
Data available here

Vertebral evolution and ontogenetic allometry: The developmental basis of extreme body shape divergence in microcephalic sea snakes.
​Sherratt, E., Coutts, F.J., Rasmussen, A.R., Sanders, K.L. (2019) Evolution & Development, 21:135–144. here
Data available here
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Evolution of extreme ontogenetic allometric diversity and heterochrony in pythons, a clade of giant and dwarf snakes.
Esquerré, D., Sherratt, E., Keogh, J.S. (2017) Evolution, 71(12): 2829–2844. here
​Data available here

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Trophic specialization drives morphological evolution in sea snakes. 
Sherratt, E., Rasmussen, A.R., Sanders, K.L. (2018) Royal Society Open Science, 5: 172141. here
Data available here

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Are Diet Preferences Associated to Skulls Shape Diversification in Xenodontine Snakes?
Klaczko, J., Sherratt, E., Setz, E.Z.F. (2016) PLoS ONE, 11(2): e0148375. here

Frogs

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Adult frogs and tadpoles have different macroevolutionary patterns across the Australian continent.
Sherratt, E., M. Vidal-García, M. Anstis, and J. S. Keogh. (2017) 
Nature Ecology & Evolution, 1: 1385–1391. here
​
Data available here

​Ecomorphological diversity of Australian tadpoles. 
Sherratt, E., Anstis, M., Keogh, J.S. (2018) Ecology & Evolution, 8(24): 12929–12939. here
Data available here

Scallops

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​Phylogenetic convergence and multiple shell shape optima for gliding scallops (Bivalvia: Pectinidae). 
Serb, J.M., Sherratt, E., Alejandrino, A., Adams, D.C. (2017)
Journal of Evolutionary Biology​, 30(9): 1736–1747. ​ here

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Rates of morphological evolution, asymmetry and morphological integration of shell shape in scallops.
​Sherratt, E., Serb, J.M., Adams, D.C. (2017) BMC Evolutionary Biology, 17: 248. here

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Trends in the sand: directional evolution in the shell shape of recessing scallops (Bivalvia: Pectinidae). Sherratt, E., Alejandrino, A., Kraemer, A.C., Serb, J.M., Adams, D.C., (2016) Evolution, ​70(9): 2061–2073 here
Data available here

Rabbits

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Evolutionary morphology of the rabbit skull. Kraatz, B. & Sherratt, E. (2016) PeerJ, 4:e2453. here

Blog post summary by Matt Wedel.

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Ecological correlates to cranial morphology in Leporids (Mammalia, Lagomorpha). 
Kraatz, B.P., Sherratt, E., Bumacod, N., Wedel, M.J. (2015) PeerJ 3 :e844. here

Blog post summary by Matt Wedel.
Original submission preprint

Lizards

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Amber fossils demonstrate deep-time stability of Caribbean lizard communities. 
Sherratt, E., Castañeda, M.d.R, Garwood, R.J., Mahler, D.L., Sanger, T.J., Herrel, A., de Queiroz, K., Losos, J.B. (2015) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 112(32): 9961–9966. here
 - read about it on New York Times Online, Smithsonian Science News, ABC Science Online, Harvard Gazette, CBC News.
​Data available: amber fossils here, modern specimens here (Project ID P459)

Semicircular canals in Anolis lizards: ecomorphological convergence and ecomorph affinities of fossil species
Dickson, B.V., Sherratt, E., Losos, J.B., Pierce, S.E. (2017) Royal Society Open Science, 4: 170058. here
Data available here
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Convergent evolution of sexual dimorphism in skull shape using distinct developmental strategies.
Sanger, T.J, Sherratt, E.,  McGlothlin, J.W., Brodie III, E.D., Losos, J.B., Abzhanov, A. (2013) 
Evolution 67: 2180–2193 here

Evolution of cranial shape in a continental-scale evolutionary radiation of Australian lizards.
Gray, J.A., Sherratt, E., Hutchinson, M.N., Jones, M.E.H. Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13851 here
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Changes in ontogenetic patterns facilitate diversification in skull shape of Australian agamid lizards. 
Gray, J.A., Sherratt, E., Hutchinson, M.N., Jones, M.E.H. (2019) BMC Evolutionary Biology, 19:7. here
Data available here

Caecilians

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Influence of fossoriality on inner ear morphology: insights from caecilian amphibians.
Maddin, H.C. & Sherratt, E. (2014)  Journal of Anatomy, 225(1): 83–93
here

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Evolution of cranial shape in caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona).
Sherratt, E., Gower, D.J., Klingenberg, C.P., Wilkinson, M. (2014)
Evolutionary Biology, 41(4): 528-545 here

Rodents

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Getting a head in hard soils: Convergent skull evolution and divergent allometric patterns explain shape variation in a highly diverse genus of pocket gophers (Thomomys). 
​
Marcy, A.E., Hadley, E.A., Sherratt, E., Garland, K., Weisbecker, V. (2016) BMC Evolutionary Biology, 16(1): 207. here

Marsupials

Individual variation of the masticatory system dominates 3D skull shape in the herbivory-adapted marsupial wombats.
Weisbecker, V., Guillerme, T., Speck, C., Sherratt, E., Mehari Abraha, H., Sharp, A.C., Terhune, C.E., Collins, S., Johnston, S., Panagiotopoulou, O. 2019. Frontiers in Zoology, doi:10.1186/s12983-019-0338-5 here

Plants

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Leaf shape and size tracks habitat transitions across forest-grassland boundaries in the grass family (Poaceae). 
Gallaher, T.J., Adams, D.C., Attigala, L., Burke, S.V., Craine, J.M., Duvall, M.R., Klahs, P.C., Sherratt, E., Wysocki, W.P., Clark, L.G. (2019) ​Evolution, 73(5): 927–946. here
Data available here

Taxonomy & Biodiversity

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The Mexican amber anole, Anolis electrum, within a phylogenetic context: implications for the origins of Caribbean anoles.
Castañeda, M.d.R., Sherratt, E., Losos, J.B. (2014) Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 172(1): 133-144 . here
View the Morphobank images here.


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Amphibian diversity in East African biodiversity hotspots: altitudinal and latitudinal patterns. Poynton, J.C., Loader, S.P., Sherratt, E., Clarke, B.T. (2007) 
Biodiversity and Conservation. 16(4): 1103-1118. here

Caecilian taxonomy

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A new species of striped Ichthyophis Fitzinger, 1826 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Ichthyophiidae) from Myanmar.
Wilkinson, M., Presswell, B., Sherratt, E., Papadopolou, A., Gower, D.J. (2014) Zootaxa, 3785 (1): 045–058. here

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A new species of skin-feeding caecilian and the first report of reproductive mode in Microcaecilia (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae). Wilkinson, M., Sherratt, E., Starace, F., Gower, D.J. (2013) 
PLoS ONE 8(3): e57756. here 

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Discovery of a new family of amphibians from northeast India with ancient links to Africa. 
Kamei, R.G., San Mauro, D., Gower, D.J., Van Bocxlaer, I., Sherratt, E., Thomas, A., Babu, S., Bossuyt, F., Wilkinson, M., Biju, S.D. (2012) 
Proceedings Royal Society B, 279(1737): 2396-2401 link
    - read about it on the BBC news, watch video about the discovery here.
    - 2012 National Geographic Top Ten Discoveries, read it here

A nine-family classification of caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona). Wilkinson, M., San Mauro, D., Sherratt, E., Gower, D.J. (2011) Zootaxa 2874: 41-64. link
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A new species of Rhinatrema Duméril & Bibron (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Rhinatrematidae) from Guyana. 
Gower, D.J., Wilkinson, M., Sherratt, E., Kok, P.J.R. (2010) 
Zootaxa, 2391: 47-60. here

Biomechanics

Covariation between forelimb muscle anatomy and bone shape in an Australian scratch‐digging marsupial: Comparison of morphometric methods.
Martin, M.L., Travouillon, K.L., Sherratt, E. Fleming, P.A., Warburton, N.M. 2019. Journal of Morphology, 4(4): 393–16. here
The biomechanics of foraging behaviours determine face length among kangaroos and their relatives.
​Mitchell, D.R., Sherratt, E., Ledogar, J., Wroe, S. (2018) Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 285: 20180845. here
​Feeding biomechanics influences craniofacial morphology at the subspecies scale among Australian pademelons (Macropodidae: Thylogale).
Mitchell, D.R., Sherratt, E., Sansalone, G., Ledogar, J., Flavel, R.J., Wroe, S. (2018) Journal of Mammalian Evolution, here. 

 Developmental Instability

The genetic architecture of fluctuating asymmetry of mandible size and shape in a population of mice: another look.
Leamy, L., Klingenberg, C.P., Sherratt, E., Wolf, J. & Cheverud, J. (2015) Symmetry, 7(1): 146-163. here
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A search for quantitative trait loci exhibiting imprinting effects on mouse mandible size and shape. 
Leamy, L.J., Klingenberg, C.P., Sherratt, E., Wolf, J.B. and Cheverud, J.M. (2008) Heredity, 101: 518–526. here

Methods

Do cladistic and morphometric data capture common patterns of morphological disparity?
Hetherington, A.J., Sherratt, E., Ruta, M., Wilkinson, M., Deline, B. & Donoghue, P.C.J. (2015) Palaeontology, 58(3): 393–399. here
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A new, three-dimensional geometric morphometric approach to assess egg shape. 
Attard, M.R.G., Sherratt, E., McDonald, P., Young, I., Vidal-García, M. Wroe, S. ​(2018) PeerJ, 6: e5052. here
Data available here

Morphological Integration & Modularity

Out on a limb: bandicoot limb covariation suggests complex impacts of development and adaptation on marsupial forelimb evolution.
Garland, K. Marcy, A.E., Sherratt, E., Weisbecker, V. (2016) Evolution & Development, 19(2): 69–84. here
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Morphological evolution and modularity of the caecilian skull.
​Bardua, C., Gower, D.J., Wilkinson, M., Sherratt, E., Goswami, A. (2019) BMC Evolutionary Biology, 19:30. here

High-density three-dimensional morphometric analyses support conserved static (intraspecific) modularity in caecilian (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) crania. 
Marshall, A.F., Bardua, C., Gower, D.J., Wilkinson, M., Sherratt, E., Goswami, A. (2019) Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 126(4): 721–742. here

Other topics

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Psychology, not technology, is our biggest challenge to open digital morphology data.
​Hipsley, C.A., Sherratt, E. (2019) Scientific Data, 6:4. here
Data available here

Using principal trabecular orientation to differentiate joint loading orientation in the 3rd metacarpal heads of humans and chimpanzees.
​Barak, M.M., Sherratt, E., Lieberman, D.E. (2017) Journal of Human Evolution, 113: 173e182. here
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A relative shift in cloacal location repositions external genitalia in amniote evolution.
Tschopp, P., Sherratt, E., Sanger, T.J., Groner, A.C., Aspiras, A.C., Hu, J.K., Pourquié, O., Gros, J. & Tabin, C.J (2014) Nature,  516: 391–394 here
   - read about it on ScienceMag and IFLS

​Egg shape mimicry in parasitic cuckoos. 
Attard, M.R.G., Medina, I., Langmore, N., Sherratt, E., (2017) Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 30(11): 2079–2084. here

Popular Science Articles: Blogs and Magazines

20-Million-Year-Old Fossils Reveal Ecomorph Diversity in Hispaniola. Anole Annals blog, July 27th 2015 link

The Fossil Species Anolis electrum Gets and X-ray Makeover. Anole Annals blog, August 14th 2014 link

The Hi-Tech World of Anole Paleontology. Anole Annals blog, March 6th 2012 link

Piecing Together the Anole Family Tree: Anole Fossils. Anole Annals blog, Feb. 15th 2012 link

Skeletal Anomolies - Curious Case of the Asymmetrical Sacrum. Anole Annals blog, Nov. 24th 2011 link

Anolis - Now in 3D!. Anole Annals blog, Nov. 18th 2011 link

Is it a snake? Is it a worm? No it's a caecilian! Biological Science Review - A magazine for A-level students of Biology 2012.



Non-peer reviewed articles

They've Kept On Keeping On. Sherratt, E. (2012) Science 338:46. link    
    - Book review of Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms The Story of the Animals and Plants That Time Has Left Behind by Richard Fortey.

New Generation Curation! Digital Specimen archiving my micro-CT. Sherratt, E. (2009) Annual Report of the Department of Zoology 2008-2009. Edited by C. Patterson, The Natural History Museum, London.

A Pilot Study of the Systematics and Ecology of Caecilian Amphibians of the Station de Recherche des Nouragues. Gower, D.J., Sherratt, E., Wilkinson, M. (2009) Nouragues Research Station 2008 Annual Report (http://www.nouragues.cnrs.fr/)
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