Department of Biology-FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
J Evol Biol. 2010 Jan;23(1):98-111. doi: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01868.x. Epub 2009 Nov 6.
Variation in squamate foot morphology is likely relevant during evolutionary processes of habitat colonization because distinct surfaces differ in energetic and functional demands for locomotion. We combined new foot morphological data with published information of limb and tail lengths to investigate evolutionary changes possibly associated with the differential usage of ecological settings by Tropidurinae species. Several traits exhibited significant phylogenetic signal, and we performed conventional and phylogenetic regressions of PC scores (retained from Principal Components Analyses of morphometric traits) on continuous ecological indices. Tropidurines from sandy habitats exhibit larger foot soles, opposite to the evolution of narrow feet in species that use branches and rocks. Also, species that usually move along trunks present longer femora. This study provides evidence for morphological adaptations associated with substrate usage in Tropidurinae, and suggests that opposite morphological profiles might evolve associated with the use of surfaces energetically and functionally contrasting, possibly leading to trade-offs.
蜥蜴类脚部形态的变化可能在生境殖民的进化过程中具有重要意义，因为不同的表面在运动时对能量和功能的需求存在差异。我们将新的脚部形态数据与已发表的四肢和尾巴长度信息相结合，以研究可能与 Tropidurinae 物种对生态环境的不同利用相关的进化变化。几个特征表现出显著的系统发育信号，我们对形态特征主成分分析（PCA）保留的 PC 得分进行了常规和系统发育回归，以研究连续的生态指数。在沙质栖息地的 Tropidurines 具有更大的脚底，而在使用树枝和岩石的物种中，脚则变窄。此外，通常沿着树干移动的物种具有更长的股骨。本研究为 Tropidurinae 与基质使用相关的形态适应提供了证据，并表明可能与使用能量和功能上有差异的表面相关的相反的形态特征可能会进化，这可能导致权衡。
