When a general morphology allows many habitat uses

Abstract

During the last decades the study of functional morphology received more attention incorporating more detailed data corresponding to the internal anatomy that together contribute for a better understanding of the functional basis in locomotion. Here we focus on 2 lizard families, Tropiduridae and Liolaemidae, and use information related to muscle-tendinous and external morphology traits of hind legs. We investigate whether the value of the traits analyzed tend to exhibit a reduced phenotypic variation produced by stabilizing selection, and whether species showing specialization in their habitat use will also exhibit special morphological features related to it. As a result, we identified that evolution of hind limb traits is mainly explained by the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model, suggesting stabilizing selection. Liolaemids and tropidurids show clear ecomorphological trends in the variables considered, with sand lizards presenting the most specialized morphological traits. Some ecomorphological trends differ between the 2 lineages, and traits of internal morphology tend to be more flexible than those of external morphology, restricting the ability to identify ecomorphs shared between these 2 lineages. Conservative traits of external morphology likely explain such restriction, as ecomorphs have been historically defined in other lizard clades based on variation of external morphology.

Phylogenetic patterns and correlation of key structures for jumping: bone crests and cross‐sectional areas of muscles in Leptodactylus (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

“…It is important to highlight, however, that there were minimal differences in the AIC c and wAIC between the tested models and, therefore, some consideration should be given to whether these models really do have a substantially better or worse fit than other models. Coincidently, this hierarchical pattern has also been observed in tendon variations in the same leptodactylidae group , in pelvic girdle characters in hylids (Soliz et al 2017) and in tendinous muscle variation in lizards in general (Tulli et al 2016). These new results support our previous hypothesis that a stabilizing selection would best explain many of the morphological traits related to the evolution of the locomotor system in tetrapods .…”

“…) and in tendinous muscle variation in lizards in general (Tulli et al. ). These new results support our previous hypothesis that a stabilizing selection would best explain many of the morphological traits related to the evolution of the locomotor system in tetrapods (Fratani et al.…”

Environmental determinism, and not interspecific competition, drives morphological variability in Australasian warblers (Acanthizidae)

“…Several factors may explain the lack of specialization in functional morphology between, for example, canopy-gleaners and ground-dwelling species. It could be argued that acanthizids have evolved an optimal (all-purpose) morphology that allows them to perform relatively well (or similarly poorly) at several tasks; this has been previously described in some families of lizards with absence of ecomorphs (i.e., functionally intermediate or "jack of all trades and master of none" morphology; Arnold, 1998; see also Tulli et al, 2016;Maestri et al, 2017). Thus, conservation of a stereotyped morphology may represent an evolutionary mechanism by which species could exploit a variety of environments.…”

Extreme specialization to rocky habitats in Tropidurus lizards from Brazil: Trade‐offs between a fitted ecomorph and autoecology in a harsh environment

“…However, a relationship between both internal and external morphology and habit used has been found in Tropidurus (Tulli et al 2016). Accordingly, these species had wider flexor digitorum longus aponeurosis, typical of strict saxicolous lizards (Tulli et al 2016). Accordingly, these species had wider flexor digitorum longus aponeurosis, typical of strict saxicolous lizards (Tulli et al 2016).…”

“…Their flattened bodies may allow them to use rock crevices as refuges, and take advantage of the thermal properties of the rocks to rapidly increase their body temperature (Vitt 1981;Eloi & Leite-Filho 2013). The well-developed tendinousmuscular system of these species provide them with a higher resistance to the effort of climbing (Tulli et al 2016). Moreover, their longer limbs allow them to lower their centre-of-gravity and easily move on rock surfaces, even on steep slopes (Zaaf & Van Damme 2001).…”