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Convergence and divergence in lizard colour polymorphisms
Author(s) -
StuartFox Devi,
Aulsebrook Anne,
Rankin Katrina J.,
Dong Caroline M.,
McLean Claire A.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
biological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.993
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1469-185X
pISSN - 1464-7931
DOI - 10.1111/brv.12656
Subject(s) - biology , convergent evolution , lizard , evolutionary biology , natural selection , human evolutionary genetics , divergence (linguistics) , phenotypic trait , genetic divergence , phenotype , phylogenetics , zoology , genetics , gene , selection (genetic algorithm) , genetic diversity , population , linguistics , philosophy , demography , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science
Colour polymorphic species are model systems for examining the evolutionary processes that generate and maintain discrete phenotypic variation in natural populations. Lizards have repeatedly evolved strikingly similar polymorphic sexual signals in distantly related lineages, providing an opportunity to examine convergence and divergence in colour polymorphism, correlated traits and associated evolutionary processes. Herein, we synthesise the extensive literature on lizard colour polymorphisms in both sexes, including recent advances in understanding of the underlying biochemical, cellular and genetic mechanisms, and correlated behavioural, physiological and life‐history traits. Male throat, head or ventral colour morphs generally consist of red/orange, yellow and white/blue morphs, and sometimes mixed morphs with combinations of two colours. Despite these convergent phenotypes, there is marked divergence in correlated behavioural, physiological and life‐history traits. We discuss the need for coherence in morph classification, particularly in relation to ‘mixed’ morphs. We highlight future research directions such as the genetic basis of convergent phenotypes and the role of environmental variation in the maintenance of polymorphism. Research in this very active field promises to continue to provide novel insights with broad significance to evolutionary biologists.