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Whole-organism studies of adhesion in pad-bearing lizards: creative evolutionary solutions to functional problems

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Abstract

Understanding the evolution of complex functional traits is a challenge for evolutionary physiology. Here we investigate the evolution of subdigital toepads in lizards, which have arisen independently at least three times, although with subtle anatomical differences. Some designs (anole, gecko) appear functionally equivalent, whereas other designs (skink) are inferior. The functional equivalence of geckos and anoles highlights the creative aspect of the evolutionary process in that these two groups have arrived at the same functional endpoint along very different trajectories. However, this functional equivalence does not result in equivalence for performance at whole-organism tasks (e.g., running uphill), as the evolution of behavior (e.g., toe-furling) has enabled geckos to be superior climbers than anoles. We also show that adaptive increases in the toepad size within a closely related lizard genus (Anolis) has resulted in concomitant evolution of enhanced clinging ability and increased perch heights. A third insight is that pad-bearing geckos are capable of carrying tremendous loads (up to 250% of body weight) up smooth surfaces, and that the toepad itself does not appear limiting. This comparative and whole-organism approach to lizard toepads underscores how organisms can evolve multiple solutions to evolutionary problems.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jon Barnes for inviting us to participate in this symposium on adhesion at the International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Two reviewers made helpful comments on previous versions of this manuscript. This work was supported by NSF grants to D. Irschick (IBN 9983003 and IOB 0421917). AH and BVH are postdoctoral fellows of the fund for scientific research, Flanders, Belgium (FWO-Vl). All experiments were carried out in accordance with an approved animal use protocol (IACUC 0189-2-16-0301).

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  1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, 310 Dinwiddie Hall, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    Duncan J. Irschick

  2. Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerpen, Belgium

    Anthony Herrel & Bieke Vanhooydonck

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  1. Duncan J. Irschick
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Correspondence to Duncan J. Irschick.

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Irschick, D.J., Herrel, A. & Vanhooydonck, B. Whole-organism studies of adhesion in pad-bearing lizards: creative evolutionary solutions to functional problems. J Comp Physiol A 192, 1169–1177 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-006-0145-2

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