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Natural variation in the limb skeletal pattern of the crested newt, Triturus carnifex (amphibia: Salamandridae)
Author(s) -
Zaffaroni Nicoletta Pacces,
Arias Elio,
Zavanella Teresa
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1052130210
Subject(s) - triturus , salamandridae , biology , forelimb , caudata , amphibian , anatomy , population , genus , zoology , ecology , demography , sociology
The forelimb skeletal patterns of two geographically isolated populations of Triturus carnifex , one from northern Italy (Rosate, Milano) and one from central Italy (Bagnaia, Perugia) were studied. A total of 1,018 limbs were examined. Limb skeletal variants, generally consisting either of a reduced number of carpals and/or of an alternate phalangeal formula, were commonly observed, as has been reported for other amphibian species. The population from northern Italy showed a greater variability than that from central Italy. Skeletal variants were present in 34% and 12% of the limbs, respectively (i.e., in 48% and 20% of the newts). In the Rosate population, the majority of variants consisted of fusions of radiale and prepollicis and of the phalangeal formula 1‐2‐3‐2. Severe skeletal defects were also found in 3% of the limbs of the newts from Rosate and in 1% of the limbs of those from Bagnaia. At present, no conclusion can be drawn about the evolutionary significance of the limb skeletal variation observed in the two populations, because of the paucity of data on intra‐ and interpopulation variations in other species of the genus Triturus . © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.