ECOLOGICAL SPECIES REPLACEMENT OF LIOLAEMUS LIZARDS ALONG A HABITAT GRADIENT
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Date
1980
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Abstract
Ecological species replacement of L. platei by L. lemniscatus may occur along a north-south oriented herb density gradient. Both congeners are the only ground-dwelling lizards in the area; this suggests that L. lemniscatus is an ecological counterpart of L. platei in herbaceous habitats. Relatively longer legs may be associated with the utilization of herb-free habitats by L. platei; the shorter legs possessed by L. lemniscatus are associated with the utilization of habitats of higher herb density. Morphological evidence indicates the presence of intermediate populations in the zone of intermediate herb density. Alternatives of a single-species cline vs. interspecific hybridization between the 2 taxa are discussed.