The Pallium in Reptiles and Birds in the Light of the Updated Tetrapartite Pallium Model

The pallium of birds and reptiles is analyzed in detail with regard to the classification of its natural subdivisions on the basis of the tetrapartite pallium model proposed in 2014 by the first author. The possibility to use genoarchitectural data for this task is connected with the fundamental criteria of homology, namely conserved topological position within a Bauplan and conserved developmental makeup. It is argued that systematic employment of a model facilitates the production of homology hypothesis. The case of the sauropsidian claustrum and insula is detailed. Finally, comments are offered about how models should be improved and on some recent publications discussed in this context. Informative figures accompany the text step by step.