1999/01/01 by Jan W. Arntzen, Graham P. Wallis · 7 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Genetic diversity and population structure #Wildlife Ecology and Conservation #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Biology #Triturus #Taxon #Zoology #Mitochondrial DNA #Ecology #Evolutionary biology #Genetics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1163/18759866-06803004
openalex publication_date 1999/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
Within the newt genus Triturus , the large-bodied species in the T. cristatus (crested newt) superspecies show an unusual degree of variation in relative trunk length as a result of among-taxon variation in interlimb vertebral count. Here we examine the systematic value of this feature as assessed by both exterior measurement (Wolterstorff Index) and direct radiographic count of rib-bearing vertebrae, with particular reference to a number of confounding factors (sex differences, hybridisation, geographic variation, allometry, preservation effects). Using our mtDNA haplotype data, which are largely concordant with geographic distribution of species, we find that direct count ofthe rib-bearing vertebrae performs more reliably (14% misclassification) than external measurement (31% misclassification) as a species identifier. We therefore recommend this feature as a taxonomic tool, although (like external measurement) it breaks down near hybrid zones. To account for the observed biogeographicalpattern and phenotype-genotype discrepancies, a scenario is presented that combines the movement of the contact zone between taxa with asymmetric hybridisation. This scenario applies to species interactions in eastern Yugoslavia and western France.