The limbless caecelian amphibians have vertebral adaptations for their burrowing habit and mode of life that suggest an evolutionary change of certain thoracic vertebrae to assist motile, cervical functions, despite retention of rudimentary ribs on them.The changes appear related to distinct stresses placed on the vertebrae by movements necessary to burrowing.Also, the changes are distinct enough to be taxonomically useful for potential distinction of genera and/ or species in the several families of caecelians.
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Edward Harrison Taylor (1977) studied this question.