Publication
Title
It is all in the head: morphological basis for differences in bite force among colour morphs of the Dalmatian wall lizard
Author
Abstract
Males of the lizard Podarcis melisellensis occur in three distinct colours that differ in bite performance, with orange males biting harder than white or yellow ones. Differences in bite force among colour morphs are best explained by differences in head height, suggesting underlying variation in cranial shape and/or the size of the jaw adductors. To explore this issue further, we examined variation in cranial shape, using geometric morphometric techniques. Additionally, we quantified differences in jaw adductor muscle mass. No significant differences in size corrected head shape were found, although some shape trends could be detected between the colour morphs. Orange males have relatively larger jaw adductors than yellow males. Not only the mass of the external jaw adductors, but also that of the internal jaw adductors was greater for the orange morph. Data for other cranial muscles not related to biting suggest that this is not the consequence of an overall increase in robustness in orange individuals. These results suggest that differences in bite performance among morphs are caused specifically by an increase in the mass of the jaw adductor, which may be induced by differences in circulating hormone levels.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Biological journal of the Linnean Society. - London
Publication
London : 2009
ISSN
0024-4066 [print]
1095-8312 [online]
DOI
10.1111/J.1095-8312.2008.01103.X
Volume/pages
96 :1 (2009) , p. 13-22
ISI
000261834500003
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 14.04.2009
Last edited 25.05.2022
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