part of part of in taxon develops from develops from Theria <mammals> sclera neural crest cartilage element of chondrocranium scleral cartilage sclerotic cartilages TAO:0001509 ZFA:0001509 Bilaterally paired thin continuous band of cartilage that sagittally encircles the eye.[TAO] scleral cartilaginous cup consider distinguishing cup from predecessor of ossicle. Hall: The scleral cartilaginous cup is a distinctly sepa- rate element composed of hyaline cartilage scleral cartilage element Circular cartilage ringing the posterior portion of the eye in the sclera. Supports the eye. UBERON:0010289 May be calcified in chondrichthyans. Tetrapods without this element (e.g., snakes and mammals) have a collagenous sclera. May not be homologous - see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17051547. cup-shaped in birds. Present in monotremes. relationship to sclera - overlaps? sclerotic cartilage scleral skeletal element