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Title
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Sexual dimorphism in the dermal armour of cordyline lizards (Squamata: Cordylinae)
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Author
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Abstract
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| While sexual dimorphism in offensive weaponry is a well-established phenomenon, few studies have looked at sexual differences in defensive body armour. In this study, we investigate sexual dimorphism in the expression of osteoderms - bony elements embedded in the skin - in four species of cordyline lizards by using high-resolution micro-computed tomography. Our results unambiguously show that only in the species with an intermediate phenotype characterized by isolated osteoderms without any clear ecological function do males have a higher degree of osteoderm expression than females. By contrast, no significant sexual differences are present in the species with an armoured phenotype consisting of a continuous layer of imbricating osteoderms. These findings suggest that sexual selection acting on dermal armour might be ubiquitous, but that in the armoured phenotype, its effect is weak because of a stronger selection pressure towards improved defence or physiological function. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Biological journal of the Linnean Society. - London
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Publication
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London
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2018
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ISSN
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0024-4066
[print]
1095-8312
[online]
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Volume/pages
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125
:1
(2018)
, p. 30-36
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ISI
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000442937000003
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
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