Patterns of phenotypic variation reveal substantial differentiation in sexual dimorphism of three Psammodromus (Squamata, Lacertidae) species

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Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_3321D02DF089
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Patterns of phenotypic variation reveal substantial differentiation in sexual dimorphism of three Psammodromus (Squamata, Lacertidae) species
Journal
Contributions to Zoology
Author(s)
San-Jose L.M, Gonzalez-Jimena V., Fitze P.S
ISSN
1383-4517
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2012
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
81
Number
4
Pages
181-197
Language
english
Notes
San-Jose2012
Abstract
The Spanish sand racer (Psammodromus hispanicus) has been recently split into three distinct species: P. hispanicus, P. edwardsianus, and P. occidentalis. Some morphological differences have been reported but there is as yet no description allowing unambiguous identification of the three species. Here, we describe differentiation in body measurements, scalation traits, and colour traits as well as in the degree of sexual dimorphism. Our results show that P. edwardsianus can be easily distinguished by the presence of a supralabial scale below the subocular scale, which is absent in the other two species. Psammodromus hispanicus and P. occidentalis can be distinguished by the number of femoral pores, throat scales and ocelli, and the relative width of the anal scale. The degree of sexual size dimorphism and sexual colour dimorphism substantially differs among species, suggesting that different scenarios of sexual and natural selection may exist for each species. Moreover, sexually selected traits (nuptial colouration, ocelli, and femoral pores) significantly differ among species, suggesting that visual and chemical communication may also differ among species. Such differences could prevent reproduction and gene flow at secondary contact zones, potentially reinforcing isolation and speciation within this group of lizards.
Keywords
colouration, Psammodromus edwardsianus, Psammodromus hispanicus, Psammodromus occidentalis, sexual dimorphism
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22/11/2012 11:28
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:18
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