title: Stick or grip? Co-evolution of adhesive toepads and claws in Anolis lizards.
abstract: Exploring the relationship between phenotype and performance in an ecological and evolutionary context is crucial to understanding the adaptive nature of phenotypic traits. Despite their ubiquity in vertebrates, few studies have examined the functional and ecological significance of claw morphologies. Here we examine the adhesive toepad and claw system of Anolis lizards. Claw characters are significantly different between lizards classified as arboreal (perch height≥1m) and non-arboreal (perch height<1m). Arboreal species possess significantly higher and longer claws, and show trends toward decreased claw curvature and wider claw tip angles. Toepad size and claw length and height are tightly correlated with each other and with perch height, suggesting that the adhesive toepad and gripping claw have co-evolved to accommodate different habitats. The functional morphology and evolution of claws are ripe areas for future investigation.
authors: Field Research Station at Fort Missoula, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA. Electronic address: kristen.crandell@umontana.edu.
authors: Kristen E
authors: KE
authors: Crandell
authors: Département d'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, UMR 7179 C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N., 57 rue Cuvier, F-75231 Paris Cedex 5, France; Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Herrel
authors: Palo Verde Biological Station, Organization for Tropical Studies, 0676-2050 San José, Costa Rica; Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, Dulce Nombre, Vázquez de Coronado, San José, Costa Rica.
authors: Mahmood
authors: M
authors: Sasa
authors: Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors: Jonathan B
authors: JB
authors: Losos
authors: Department of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, 0615 Southwest Palatine Hill Road, Portland, OR 97219, USA.
authors: Kellar
authors: K
authors: Autumn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D017753:Ecosystem; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
keywords: Adhesion; Anolis; Claw morphology; Clinging; Toepad