Mixed signals? Morphological and molecular evidence suggest a color polymorphism in some neotropical polythore damselflies.

ABSTRACT: The study of color polymorphisms (CP) has provided profound insights into the maintenance of genetic variation in natural populations. We here offer the first evidence for an elaborate wing polymorphism in the Neotropical damselfly genus Polythore, which consists of 21 described species, distributed along the eastern slopes of the Andes in South America. These damselflies display highly complex wing colors and patterning, incorporating black, white, yellow, and orange in multiple wing bands. Wing colors, along with some components of the male genitalia, have been the primary characters used in species description; few other morphological traits vary within the group, and so there are few useful diagnostic characters. Previous research has indicated the possibility of a cryptic species exis

SUBMITTER: Sanchez Herrera M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4414280 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature