
Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 291(2036)
Опубликована: Дек. 1, 2024
Ecology is a key driver of morphological evolution during adaptive radiations, but alternative factors like phylogeny and allometry can have strong influence on morphology. Lepidosaurs, the most diverse clade tetrapods, including lizards snakes, evolved remarkable variety forms adapted to disparate ecological niches, representing an ideal case study understand drivers evolution. Here, we quantify variation in lower jaw using three-dimensional geometric morphometrics broad sample 153 lepidosaur species. Our results suggest that has significantly influenced mandibular shape evolution, snakes diverged from lizard-like morphology their Allometry diet, foraging mode substrate also appear drive diversification forms. Ecological groups differ patterns disparity, convergence rates indicating divergent evolutionary mechanisms are responsible for acquisition different diets habitats. analyses support lepidosaurs ancestrally use jaws capture prey, contrary traditional view favouring lingual prehension as ancestral. Specialized or ecologically lineages show high suggesting innovation mandible contributed spectacular ecomorphological lepidosaurs.
Язык: Английский