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A Comparison Of Evolutionary Radiations In Mainland And West Indian Anolis Lizards. Ecology, Duncan J. Irschick, L. J. Vitt, P. Zani, J. B. Losos

Duncan J. Irschick

Comparisons between closely related radiations in different environments provide a unique window into understanding how abiotic and biotic factors shape evolutionary pathways. Anolis lizards have radiated extensively in the West Indies, as well as mainland Central and South America. In the Caribbean, similar communities of anole species specialized for different habitats (ecomorphs) have evolved independently on each Greater Antillean island. We examined ecological and morphological data on 49 Anolis species (33 Caribbean, 16 mainland) to investigate whether the same set of ecomorphs has arisen in mainland regions. More generally, we investigated whether the relationship between ecology and morphology was similar …