Rock-Dwelling Lizards Exhibit Less Sensitivity of Sprint Speed to Increases in Substrate Rugosity
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2013
Publication Title
Zoology
DOI
10.1016/j.zool.2013.01.001
ISSN
0944-2006
Abstract
Effectively moving across variable substrates is important to all terrestrial animals. The effects of substrates on lizard performance have ecological ramifications including the partitioning of habitat according to sprinting ability on different surfaces. This phenomenon is known as sprint sensitivity, or the decrease in sprint speed due to change in substrate. However, sprint sensitivity has been characterized only in arboreal Anolis lizards. Our study measured sensitivity to substrate rugosity among six lizard species that occupy rocky, sandy, and/or arboreal habitats. Lizards that use rocky habitats are less sensitive to changes in substrate rugosity, followed by arboreal lizards, and then by lizards that use sandy habitats. We infer from comparative phylogenetic analysis that forelimb, chest, and tail dimensions are important external morphological features related to sensitivity to changes in substrate rugosity.
Recommended Citation
Collins, Clint E., Jessica D. Self, Roger A. Anderson, Lance D. McBrayer.
2013.
"Rock-Dwelling Lizards Exhibit Less Sensitivity of Sprint Speed to Increases in Substrate Rugosity."
Zoology, 116 (3): 151-158.
doi: 10.1016/j.zool.2013.01.001 source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944200613000238?via%3Dihub
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/biology-facpubs/88
Copyright
Copyright belongs to Elsevier. Information regarding the dissemination and usage of journal articles can be accessed through the following links.Â
