Structure of claws and toes of two tropidurid lizard species of Restinga from Southeastern Brazil: adaptations to the vertical use of the habitat

Tropidurus torquatus and Liolaemus lutzae, found in a restinga habitat, show some morphological differences associated with differential microhabitats use. There were made measurements of the snout-vent length, length and width of the largest toe of hand and foot, and length, width, height and curvature of the claws. We counted the number of adhesive lamellae of the largest toe of each member. T. torquatus has larger toes, greater number of adhesive lamellae and higher and more curve claws than L. lutzae. No significant differences in toe and claw widths were found. These results suggest that the differences found in the morphology of toes and claws of these two species would be associated with the differential microhabitat use. T. torquatus has morphological adaptations that allow it to use the microhabitat both vertically or horizontally, while L. lutzae use it only horizontally

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Carvalho Ribas,Sueli, Velloso,Ana Lucia Rosario, Teixeira-Filho,Pedro, Rocha-Barbosa,Oscar, Evangelista,Heitor, Alves dos Santos,Elaine
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedad de Biología de Chile 2004
Online Access:	http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-078X2004000400003
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