Geographic Variation in the Limb Skeleton of the Red-Backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus
Hanken J and Dinsmore CE. 1986. Geographic Variation in the Limb Skeleton of the Red-Backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus. Journal of Herpetology. 20(1):97-101
'Analysis of skeletal evolution is hampered by a lack of knowledge of the scope and nature of variation in natural populations.' 'We quantified limb skeletal variation in samples of P. cinereus from three other localities. The results (1) document heretofore unreported variant mesopodial and phalangeal patterns which occur at low frequencies in more centrally-located populations, and (2) underscore the relatively extensive and exceptional nature of the variation present in Nova Scotia. We believe that this information contributes to an understanding of the origin of novel, discrete morphological characters, and of how such characters become established in natural populations. ' /STUDY LOCATIONS://MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Hanken, James; Dinsmore, Charles
- Units
- ACAD
- Keywords
- Amphibians (Amphibia), Mount Desert Island, red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus), Salamanders (Caudata)