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Does foraging mode mould morphology in lacertid lizards?
1Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium. dave.verwaijen@ua.ac.be
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|August 24, 2007
Summary
Lizard foraging styles and body shapes show some links, but these evolutionary connections aren't always predictable. This suggests flexibility in how foraging and morphology evolve across lizard species.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Herpetology
- Comparative morphology
Background:
- Evolutionary shifts in foraging behavior are often linked to changes in morphology, physiology, behavior, and life history.
- In lizards, sit-and-wait foragers typically exhibit stockier builds and larger heads/mouths compared to active foragers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between foraging style and body shape within the Lacertidae family.
- To examine how bite force relates to morphology and foraging behavior in lacertid lizards.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of morphological traits and foraging behavior across lacertid species.
- Assessment of bite force capabilities in relation to physical form and foraging strategy.
Main Results:
- Lacertid lizards display significant variation in foraging strategies.
- Some covariation between foraging style and body shape was observed, but not consistently with predictions.
- The significance of these relationships varied depending on the evolutionary model applied.
Conclusions:
- The assumption that foraging style is evolutionarily conservative and tightly linked to specific morphologies is challenged.
- Foraging mode flexibility and its morphological correlations differ across lizard taxa.
