Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://biore.bio.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2046
Title: Vertebral shape and body elongation in Triturus newts
Authors: Urošević, Aleksandar
Slijepčević, Maja
Arntzen, Jan
Ivanović, Ana 
Keywords: Independent contrasts;Morphological evolution;Trunk vertebrae;Urodela;Vertebral column
Issue Date: 1-Oct-2016
Project: Diversity of the amphibians and reptiles on the Balkan Peninsula: evolutionary and conservation aspects 
NL-TAF 3082
NL-TAF 3926
Naturalis Temminck Fellowship
Journal: Zoology
Abstract: 
© 2016 Elsevier GmbH Body elongation in vertebrates is often related to a lengthening of the vertebrae and an increase in their number. Changes in the number and shape of vertebrae are not necessarily linked. In tailed amphibians, a change in body shape is mostly associated with an increase in the number of trunk and tail vertebrae. Body elongation without a numerical change of vertebrae is rare. In Triturus aquatic salamanders body elongation is achieved by trunk elongation through an increase in the number of trunk vertebrae. We used computed microtomography and three-dimensional geometric morphometrics to document the size, shape and number of trunk vertebrae in seven Triturus species. The data suggest that body elongation has occurred more frequently than body shortening, possibly related to a more aquatic versus a more terrestrial locomotor style. Our results show that body elongation is achieved through an increase in the number of trunk vertebrae, and that interspecific differences in vertebral shape are correlated with this pattern of elongation. More gracile trunk vertebrae were found in the more elongated species. The shape differences are such that single trunk vertebrae can be used for the identification of species with a possible application in the identification of subfossil and fossil material.
URI: https://biore.bio.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2046
ISSN: 0944-2006
DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2016.05.003
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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