Title
Convergent exaptation of leap up for escape in distantly related arboreal amniotes
Abstract
Tetrapods with highly different morphologies occupy ecological niches of the canopy making them ideal for testing the evolution of structures and performances under similar environmental selective pressures. We compared leap up strategies between two distantly related amniote species, Anolis carolinensis (Squamate) and Microcebus murinus (Lemuriform) known to use leaping as their major locomotor mode for predator avoidance. Our comparative analysis and model show that leaping strategies (flat jump trajectory in horizontal leaps, use of forelimbs in landing) are similar in both species. The most striking divergence concerns only the temporal joint sequence accommodation to leaping height, although an identical proximal-to-distal sequence is observed when both taxa leap to maximal height. We suggest a convergent exaptation of leaping biomechanics among arboreal amniotes, which reflects similar biomechanical constraints and evolutionary pressures in these animals.
Year
DOI
Venue
2012
10.1177/1059712311426797
Adaptive Behaviour
Keywords
Field
DocType
similar biomechanical constraint,anolis carolinensis,taxa leap,arboreal amniotes,horizontal leap,identical proximal-to-distal sequence,microcebus murinus,convergent exaptation,amniote species,similar environmental selective pressure,temporal joint sequence accommodation,distantly related arboreal amniotes,ecological niche,comparative analysis
Microcebus murinus,Amniote,Anolis,Divergence,Arboreal locomotion,Ecological niche,Computer science,Exaptation,Tetrapod,Artificial intelligence,Evolutionary biology
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
20
1
1059-7123
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
1
0.41
0
Authors
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Pierre Legreneur140.92
Michel Laurin240.92
Karine M Monteil310.75
Vincent Bels441.26