The Relationship Between Head Morphology and Bite Performance in Anolis Lizards
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Vazquez, Elijah R.
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Abstract
Bite force – the maximum strength exerted during biting – plays an important role in lizards behaviors with fitness consequences, such as foraging, territory defense, and mate competition. Stronger bites enable lizards to consume tougher prey and increase their likelihood of winning territorial disputes, potentially increasing survival and reproductive success. Despite this critical performance trait, the relationship between head morphology and bite force remains understudied in lizards, particularly in the genus Anolis, which is known for its ecological diversity and morphological specialization. This study investigates the correlation between head morphology and bite force in four Anolis species: A. carolinensis, A. distichus, A. sagrei, and A. cristatellus. I measured head morphology using geometric morphometrics on radiographs from 751 individual lizards. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) revealed significant interspecific variation in head shape. My data demonstrated that species with substantially different shaped heads could generate similar peaks in bite performance. Anolis carolinesis (an arboreal specialist with long thin heads) and A. cristatellus (a semi-terrestrial species with a shorter, stockier head) achieve comparable bite force – an example of functional convergence despite morphological divergence. Additionally, I found differences in bite force and skull shape between two highly similar species, A. sagrei and A. cristatellus. These differences suggest the development of bite performance might be decoupled from morphological convergence. These findings enhance our understanding of morpholigcal evolution in lizards and highlight the complex relationship between form and function in Anolis lizards
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Undergraduate Research Option Thesis