Habitat Constraints on the Behavior, Morphology, and Community Structure of Anolis Lizards

Abstract

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Evolutionary consequences of ecological release in CaribbeanAnolislizards

“…Previous research has indicated that morphology and ecology are strongly correlated among Greater Antillean anoles (Moermond, 1979a;Losos, 1990a). Here, we have documented that this correlation continues to hold when Lesser Antillean taxa are added to the analysis.…”

Perch diameter and branching patterns have interactive effects on the locomotion and path choice of anole lizards

“…For example, several anole species (ecomorphs) have convergently evolved similar morphology and habitat preferences, such as longer limbs being positively correlated with the lizards occurring on branches with larger diameter (Moermond, 1979;Williams, 1983). This correlation between habitat preference and limb length may result from decreased cylinder diameter having more severe detrimental effects on the sprinting speeds of the longer limbed species compared with shorter limbed species (Irschick and Losos, 1999).…”

Diversity and evolution of macrohabitat use, body size and morphology in a monophyletic group of Neotropical pitvipers (Bothrops)

“…Cadle & Greene, 1993), and its physical implications, is thought to strongly in¯uence the evolution of body form in vertebrates (e.g. Moermond, 1979;Miles & Ricklefs, 1984;Wikramanayake, 1990). Even in limbless, elongate vertebrates such as snakes, closely related species may be included in different morphological syndromes depending on which macrohabitat is explored (see e.g.…”