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A Phylogeny of Mexican Ambystoma Salamanders (Caudata: Ambystomatidae) from Larval Characters

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Date Issued:
2007
Summary:
A phylogeny of Mexican Ambystoma salamanders was constructed using larval morphology. Characters were scored for 19 ambystomatid species from Mexico and North America Twenty-five continuous characters came from external measurements of cranial and branchial features and ratios of measurements. Twenty-six categorical characters were scored from internal and external larval, branchial, and cranial features, as well as overall color and adult life history. Cladograms constructed from individual character matrices lack major resolution beyond individual species level. The consensus cladogram did not resolve the majority of species, and was similar to consensus results from previous cladistic analysis based on molecular characters. Convergent morphology is evident in characters of geographically distant members of the clade. However, species determination was possible for all examined taxa. Neoteny is widespread in the A. tigrinum complex and, as an isolating mechanism, may be the main driver of speciation in the complex.
Title: A Phylogeny of Mexican Ambystoma Salamanders (Caudata: Ambystomatidae) from Larval Characters.
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Name(s): Cole, Lauren A.
Wyneken, Jeanette, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2007
Date Issued: 2007
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 68 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: A phylogeny of Mexican Ambystoma salamanders was constructed using larval morphology. Characters were scored for 19 ambystomatid species from Mexico and North America Twenty-five continuous characters came from external measurements of cranial and branchial features and ratios of measurements. Twenty-six categorical characters were scored from internal and external larval, branchial, and cranial features, as well as overall color and adult life history. Cladograms constructed from individual character matrices lack major resolution beyond individual species level. The consensus cladogram did not resolve the majority of species, and was similar to consensus results from previous cladistic analysis based on molecular characters. Convergent morphology is evident in characters of geographically distant members of the clade. However, species determination was possible for all examined taxa. Neoteny is widespread in the A. tigrinum complex and, as an isolating mechanism, may be the main driver of speciation in the complex.
Identifier: FA00000734 (IID)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2007.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Salamanders--Reproduction
Salamanders--Classification
Cladistic analysis--Mathematics
Evolutionary genetics--Mathematics
Evolution (Biology)
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000734
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.