Anatomical Basis of Differences in Locomotor Behavior in Anolis Lizards: A Comparison Between Two Ecomorphs

Abstract

ABSTRACT Anolis lizards have become model organisms for the study of adaptive radiation, as on each of the larger islands in the Caribbean, animals with similar morphologies have independently radiated into similar ecological niches. Central in the study of these animals have been the investigations correlating differences in limb dimensions to substrate characteristics and locomotor performance. However, little is known about differences in the musculoskeletal system that could underlie the observed differences in performance or locomotor style (i.e., gait characteristics). Here, we provide data on the morphology of the appendicular skeleton and musculature in two species of Anolis that differ greatly in habitat use and locomotor performance: A. sagrei and A. valencienni. The first and principal objective was to provide a detailed description of the appendicular morphology that could serve as a basis for further study. Our second objective was to test for quantitative differences in muscle mass and muscl...