Open AccessThe adaptive significance of coloration in lagomorphs
Author(s) -
STONER CHANTAL J.,
BININDAEMONDS OLAF R. P.,
CARO TIM
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1046/j.1095-8312.2003.00190.x
Subject(s) - biology , extant taxon , habitat , ecology , zoology , supertree , altitude (triangle) , phylogenetic tree , phylogenetic comparative methods , phylogenetics , evolutionary biology , biochemistry , geometry , mathematics , gene
Lagomorph pelage coloration was matched to habitat type, geographical region, altitude and behaviour to explore the adaptive significance of coloration patterns in this little‐studied order of mammals. Analyses were conducted with and without taking phylogeny into account. The former analyses were based on a weighted, phylogenetic supertree for all extant species of lagomorphs that we constructed using morphological and molecular data from 146 papers in the literature. Although our analyses represent an initial, somewhat crude investigation, several clear trends are evident. First, overall body coloration across lagomorphs tends to match the background as shown for pale and red coloration and perhaps seasonal pelage change. The case for countershading being a method of concealment is far less strong. Second, ear tips appear to have a communicative role since they are conspicuous in many different habitats. Third, hypotheses for tail tips having a communicative role, for extremities being dark for physiological reasons, and for Gloger's rule received only partial support. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 79, 309–328.