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Evidence of morphological homoplasy among large, semi-aquatic species of Desmognathus

Evidence of morphological homoplasy among large, semi-aquatic species of Desmognathus AbstractThe salamander family Plethodontidae is replete with instances of repeated homoplasy. We tested for morphological homoplasy in distantly related species of the plethodontid genus Desmognathus that share similar ecologies. Specifically, we compared species that are large and nearly aquatic. Using morphometric analyses, we compared the respective morphologies of four large, nearly aquatic forms, specifically the Black Mountain Salamander (Desmognathus welteri), the Dwarf Black-bellied Salamander (D. folkertsi), and two phylogenetically divergent lineages of the Black-bellied Salamander (D. quadramaculatus). Morphometric analysis uncovered distinct differences among them. However, all of the large-bodied lineages exhibited the same extent of tail-fin development in spite of D. welteri’s closer phylogenetic relationship to smaller, more-terrestrial species than to the other large, nearly aquatic forms we tested. We hypothesize that large body size is also a consequence of aquatic adaptation. These morphological consequences of a nearly aquatic ecology represent another case of homoplasy within this salamander family. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Amphibia-Reptilia Brill

Evidence of morphological homoplasy among large, semi-aquatic species of Desmognathus

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References (43)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0173-5373
eISSN
1568-5381
DOI
10.1163/15685381-bja10087
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

AbstractThe salamander family Plethodontidae is replete with instances of repeated homoplasy. We tested for morphological homoplasy in distantly related species of the plethodontid genus Desmognathus that share similar ecologies. Specifically, we compared species that are large and nearly aquatic. Using morphometric analyses, we compared the respective morphologies of four large, nearly aquatic forms, specifically the Black Mountain Salamander (Desmognathus welteri), the Dwarf Black-bellied Salamander (D. folkertsi), and two phylogenetically divergent lineages of the Black-bellied Salamander (D. quadramaculatus). Morphometric analysis uncovered distinct differences among them. However, all of the large-bodied lineages exhibited the same extent of tail-fin development in spite of D. welteri’s closer phylogenetic relationship to smaller, more-terrestrial species than to the other large, nearly aquatic forms we tested. We hypothesize that large body size is also a consequence of aquatic adaptation. These morphological consequences of a nearly aquatic ecology represent another case of homoplasy within this salamander family.

Journal

Amphibia-Reptilia – Brill

Published: Apr 12, 2022

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