Abstract

GONZALEZ-MARIN, Andrea; MORANDO, Mariana  and  AVILA, Luciano Javier. Linear and geometric morphology in a group of Patagonian lizards of the genus Phymaturus (Squamata: Liolaemini). Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2016, vol.87, n.2, pp.399-408. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmb.2016.04.009.

The species concept of De Queiroz (1998) provides a context to infer different lineages based on different integrated sources of information. Most species of the genus Phymaturus were described based on a few morphological characters and the validity of some have been questioned. Recent research revalidated some old species, while others suggest synonyms for some recently described. In this paper, we use the methodological approach of geometric morphometry to evaluate the variation in shape among species of the Phymaturus calcogaster group with the objective to provide a new source of evidence for the analysis of these species’ hypothesis. We also studied linear morphometric analysis typically used to describe species. We discuss the results of these 2 complementary methodological approaches with an integrative perspective. We consider that it provides a higher level of confidence in the species’ hypothesis than those proposals based on a single type of evidence. Our results provide independent evidence that supports the previously proposed species based on classical morphology, and they are also consistent with the lineages identified based on molecular data.

Keywords : Species limits; Variation; Geometric morphometrics.

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