Influence of microhabitat use on morphology traits of three species of the Anolis sericeus complex (Squamata: Dactyloidae) in Mexico

Abstract

The relationship between microhabitat use and morphology in Anolis lizards has been well studied in the Caribbean islands. However, studies of ecomorphology are scarce for the vast majority of mainland Anolis species. Thus there is a great lack of knowledge on how microhabitat use may influence the morphology of most mainland Anolis species. In this study we evaluated the relationship between morphology and microhabitat use in three sister species of the genus Anolis (A. sericeus, A. unilobatus and A. ustus) inhabiting the mainland and examined whether sympatric coexistence with other Anolis species affects microhabitat use and morphology of Anolis sericeus. The results of this study showed that A. ustus perches on higher, thinner, and warmer branches than its sister species (A. sericeus and A. unilobatus), and that snout–vent length, arm, forearm and femur length and weight of the three species are positively correlated with perch diameter, while the number of subdigital lamellae and weight are slightly correlated with perch height. In addition, the absence of sympatric Anolis species increases the variability in perch height, weight, arm and forearm length, and hip width observed in A. sericeus. Differences in limbs length, head length, weight and number of lamellae enabled the identification of two groups of species exploiting statistically different microhabitats. The relationship between microhabitat use and morphology indicates that some morphological traits, such as locomotor structures, weight and number of subdigital lamellae of the three species are influenced by microhabitat use and that interspecific competition may reduce variability in the height of perches used.