A comparative study of growth: different body weight trajectories in three species of the genus Eublepharis and their hybrids.

ABSTRACT: An extensive research effort is devoted to the evolution of life-histories and processes underlying the variation in adult body weight; however, in this regard, some animal taxa remain neglected. Here we report rates and timing of growth recorded in two wild-derived populations of a model lizard species, Eublepharis macularius (M, W), other two related species, i.e., E. angramainyu (A) and E. sp. (D), and their between-species hybrids. We detected clear differences among the examined species/populations, which can be interpreted in the terms of "fast - slow" continuum of life-history strategies. The mean asymptotic body size was the highest in A and further decreased in the following order: M, W, and D. In contrast, the growth rate showed an opposite pattern. Counter-intuitively, the large

SUBMITTER: Frynta D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5805741 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature