Evolutionary divergence of giant tortoises in Galapagos
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Abstract
The giant tortoises in the Galapagos Archipelago diverge considerably in size, and in shape and other carapace characteristics. The saddleback morphotype is known only from insular faunas lacking large terrestrial predators (i.e. Galapagos and Mauritius) and in Galapagos is associated with xeric habitats where vertical feeding range and vertical reach in agonistic encounters are adaptive. The large domed morphotype is associated with relatively cool, mesic habitats where intraspecific competition for food and other resources may be less intense than in xeric habitats. Other external characteristics that differ between tortoise populations are also correlated with ecological variation. Tortoises have radiated into a mosaic of ecological conditions in the Galapagos but critical data are lacking on the role of genetic and environmental controls on phenotypic variation. Morphological divergence in tortoises is potentially a better indicator of present ecological conditions than of evolutionary relationships.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Evolutionary divergence of giant tortoises in Galapagos |
| Series title | Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1984.tb02059.x |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 1-2 |
| Year Published | 1984 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Oxford Academic |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 12 p. |
| First page | 165 |
| Last page | 176 |
| Country | Ecuador |
| Other Geospatial | Galapagos Islands |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |