Signal size allometry in Anolis lizard dewlaps.
Biol Lett
; 19(7): 20230160, 2023 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37403573
ABSTRACT
Positive allometry of signalling traits has often been taken as evidence for sexual selection. However, few studies have explored interspecific differences in allometric scaling relationships among closely related species that vary in their degree of ecological similarity. Anolis lizards possess an elaborate retractable throat fan called a dewlap that is used for visual communication and differs greatly in size and colour among species. We observed that Anolis dewlaps demonstrate positive allometry relative dewlap size increases with body size. We also observed that coexisting species are divergent in signal size allometries, while convergent species-similar in other aspects of ecology, morphology and behaviour-typically share similar dewlap allometric scaling relationships. These patterns suggest that dewlap scaling relationships may follow the same pattern as other traits in the anole radiation, where ecologically different sympatric species have evolved a suite of divergent traits.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Lagartos
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article