RELATIONSHIPS AMONG MORPHOLOGY, CLINGING PERFORMANCE AND HABITAT USE IN LIOLAEMINI LIZARDS

TULLI M. J., V. ABDALA AND F. B. CRUZ

JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2011

1010-061X

The central tenet of ecomorphological theory holds that different ecological requirements lead to34 different organismal designs (morphology). Here, we studied the relationships between performance35 (interlocking grasping) and forelimb morphological traits in species of lizards that exploit different36 structural habitats in a phylogenetic context. The performance (measured by the maximum force of37 clinging to substrate) was measured on different substrate types. After phylogenetically informed38 analyses, we found that arboreal and saxicolous species showed stronger resistance to mechanical39 traction in all substrates when compared to generalists and sand dweller lizards. These species showed40 a positive relationship between forelimb dimensions (humerus length and length of claw of toe 5) and41 maximum force exerted, on the contrary, hand width, claw height of digits III and IV and claw length42 of toe 4 showed a negative relationship. Additionally we observed a partial positive correlation43 between claw height and maximal cling force on rough surfaces, but not on smooth surfaces.