Macroevolutionary diversification of glands for chemical communication in squamate reptiles.

ABSTRACT: Chemical communication plays a central role in social, sexual and ecological interactions among animals. However, the macroevolutionary diversification of traits responsible for chemical signaling remains fundamentally unknown. Most research investigating evolutionary diversification of glands responsible for the production of chemical signals has focused on arthropods, while its study among vertebrates remains neglected. Using a global-scale dataset covering > 80% (7,904 species) of the living diversity of lizards and snakes (squamates), we investigate rates, trajectories and phylogenetic patterns of diversification of their follicular glands for chemical communication. We observed these glands in 13.66% of species, that their expression has varying phylogenetic signal among lineages, and

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Roa R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5570929 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature