Cleidoic eggs: A key to water to land Transition
*1Deepak Rawal and 2Aishwarya Rajpurohit
1&2Department of Zoology, Mohanlal Sukhadia University Udaipur-313001 India *Corresponding Author
ABSTRACT
The development of the cleidoic egg was a significant adaptation that allowed amniotes to reduce their reliance on aquatic environments for reproduction. Cleidoic eggs are characterised by a rigid, calcified outer shell and additional membranes that aid in the exchange of gases and protect against drying out when on land. The emergence of this intricate egg structure was a crucial advancement in the development of amniotes, enabling them to thrive and adapt in terrestrial habitats. This research examines the evolutionary historyand physical structure of cleidoic eggs, investigating their probable emergence during the Carboniferous period and the varied structural adaptations that have developed in various amniote lineages. The current understanding of the evolution and adaptive radiation of amniotes is provided by synthesising fossil evidence, comparative developmental biology, and evolutionary scenarios.