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1 July 2014 Functional Morphology and Comparative Anatomy of Appendicular Musculature in Cuban Anolis Lizards with Different Locomotor Habits
Wataru Anzai, Ayano Omura, Antonio Cadiz Diaz, Masakado Kawata, Hideki Endo
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Abstract

We examined the diversity of the musculoskeletal morphology in the limbs of Anolis lizards with different habitats and identified variations in functional and morphological adaptations to different ecologies or behaviors. Dissection and isolation of 40 muscles from the fore- and hindlimbs of five species of Anolis were performed, and the muscle mass and length of the moment arm were compared after body size effects were removed. Ecologically and behaviorally characteristic morphological differences were observed in several muscles. Well-developed hindlimb extensors were observed in ground-dwelling species, A. sagrei and A. bremeri, and were considered advantageous for running, whereas adept climber species possessed expanded femoral retractors for weight-bearing during climbing. Moreover, morphological variations were observed among arboreal species. Wider excursions of the forelimb joint characterized A. porcatus, presumably enabling branch-to-branch locomotion, while A. equestris and A. angusticeps possessed highly developed adductor muscles for grasping thick branches or twigs. These findings suggest divergent evolution of musculoskeletal characteristic in the limbs within the genus Anolis, with correlations observed among morphological traits, locomotor performance, and habitat uses.

©2014 Zoological Society of Japan
Wataru Anzai, Ayano Omura, Antonio Cadiz Diaz, Masakado Kawata, and Hideki Endo "Functional Morphology and Comparative Anatomy of Appendicular Musculature in Cuban Anolis Lizards with Different Locomotor Habits," Zoological Science 31(7), 454-463, (1 July 2014). https://doi.org/10.2108/zs130062
Received: 27 March 2013; Accepted: 1 March 2014; Published: 1 July 2014
KEYWORDS
Adaptation
Anolis
appendicular musculature
habitat use
locomotion
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