Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://biore.bio.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2052
Title: Divergence in size, but not in shape: Variation in skull size and shape within Ommatotriton newts
Authors: Üzüm, Nazan
Ivanović, Ana 
Gümüş, Çiçek
Avci, Aziz
Olgun, Kurtuluş
Keywords: Allometry;Dorsal cranium;Geometric morphometrics;Ommatotriton spp.;Ventral cranium
Issue Date: 7-Aug-2014
Project: FEF11004
Diversity of the amphibians and reptiles on the Balkan Peninsula: evolutionary and conservation aspects 
Journal: Acta Zoologica
Abstract: 
© 2015 The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Using a geometric morphometric approach, we explored the variation in skull size and skull shape in banded newts (genus Ommatotriton). The genus Ommatotriton is represented by two allopatric, genetically well-defined species: Ommatotriton ophryticus and O. vittatus. Within each species, two subspecies have been recognised. The samples used in this study cover the geographical and genetic variation within each species. We found statistically significant variation in skull size between species and among populations within species. When corrected for size, there was no significant variation in shape between species. Our results indicate that the variation in skull shape within the genus Ommatotriton is almost entirely due to size-dependent, allometric shape changes. The exception is the shape of the ventral skull in males. Males of O. ophryticus and O. vittatus significantly diverge in the shape of the ventral cranium. The ventral skull, more precisely the upper jaw and palate, is directly functionally related to feeding. In general, our results indicate that allometry is a significant factor in the morphological variation of banded newts. However, the divergence in the ventral skull shape of males indicates that sexual selection and niche partitioning may have influenced the evolution of skull shape in these newts.
URI: https://biore.bio.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/2052
ISSN: 0001-7272
DOI: 10.1111/azo.12092
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