Cranial shape evolution of extant and fossil crocodile newts and its relation to reproduction and ecology.

ABSTRACT: The diversity of the vertebrate cranial shape of phylogenetically related taxa allows conclusions on ecology and life history. As pleurodeline newts (the genera Echinotriton, Pleurodeles and Tylototriton) have polymorphic reproductive modes, they are highly suitable for following cranial shape evolution in relation to reproduction and environment. We investigated interspecific differences externally and differences in the cranial shape of pleurodeline newts via two-dimensional geometric morphometrics. Our analyses also included the closely related but extinct genus Chelotriton to better follow the evolutionary history of cranial shape. Pleurodeles was morphologically distinct in relation to other phylogenetically basal salamanders. The subgenera within Tylototriton (Tylototriton and Yaotri

SUBMITTER: Pogoda P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7369190 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature