Claw morphometrics in monitor lizards: Variable substrate and habitat use correlate to shape diversity within a predator guild.

ABSTRACT: Numerous studies investigate morphology in the context of habitat, and lizards have received particular attention. Substrate usage is often reflected in the morphology of characters associated with locomotion, and, as a result, claws have become well-studied ecomorphological traits linking the two. The Kimberley predator guild of Western Australia consists of 10 sympatric varanid species. The purpose of this study was to quantify claw size and shape in the guild using geometric morphometrics, and determine whether these features correlated with substrate use and habitat. Each species was assigned a Habitat/substrate group based on the substrate their claws interact with in their respective habitat. Claw morphometrics were derived for both wild caught and preserved specimens from museum col

SUBMITTER: D'Amore DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6053582 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature