In mammals, the three small bones in the middle ear—malleus, incus, and stapes—are homologous to certain bones in lizards. Specifically, the malleus is derived from the articular bone, the incus from the quadrate bone, and the stapes corresponds to the hyomandibula. These adaptations in mammals are part of a evolutionary transition that allows for enhanced sound transmission compared to the simpler ear structures found in lizards.
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