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Ontogeny of skull size and shape changes within a framework of biphasic lifestyle: a case study in six Triturus species (Amphibia, Salamandridae)

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Abstract

As with many other amphibians, Triturus species are characterized by a biphasic life cycle with abrupt changes in the cranial skeleton during metamorphosis. The post-metamorphic shape changes of the cranial skeleton were investigated using geometric morphometric techniques in six species: Triturus alpestris, T. vulgaris, T. dobrogicus, T. cristatus, T. carnifex, and T. karelinii. The comparative analysis of ontogenetic trajectories revealed that these species have a conserved developmental rate with divergent ontogenetic trajectories of the ventral skull shape that mainly reflect phylogenetic relatedness. A striking exception in the ontogenetic pattern was possibly found in T. dobrogicus, characterized by a marked increase in the developmental rate compared to the other newt species. The size-related shape changes explained a large proportion of shape change during post-metamorphic growth within each species, with marked positive allometric growth of skull elements related to foraging.

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Acknowledgments

We are greatly indebted to M. Zelditch for assistance with the analyses, as well as for useful comments on a previous version of the paper. The clarity of this article was greatly improved by the comments of T. Bartolomaeus and two anonymous reviewers. This research was supported by the Serbian Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection (“Patterns of amphibian and reptile diversity on the Balkan Peninsula,” grant 143052).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000, Beograd, Serbia

    Ana Ivanović & Miloš L. Kalezić

  2. Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060, Beograd, Serbia

    Tanja D. Vukov, Georg Džukić, Nataša Tomašević & Miloš L. Kalezić

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  1. Ana Ivanović
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  2. Tanja D. Vukov
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  5. Miloš L. Kalezić
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Correspondence to Ana Ivanović.

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Ivanović, A., Vukov, T.D., Džukić, G. et al. Ontogeny of skull size and shape changes within a framework of biphasic lifestyle: a case study in six Triturus species (Amphibia, Salamandridae). Zoomorphology 126, 173–183 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-007-0037-1

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