Vertebrate Zoology 64(2): 221-227, doi:

Scaling of the sexual size and shape skull dimorphism in the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis L.)

Bartosz Borczyk^‡, Jan Kusznierz, Łukasz Paśko, Edyta Turniak

‡ University of Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland

Corresponding author: Bartosz Borczyk ( borczyk@biol.uni.wroc.pl )

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Citation: Borczyk B, Kusznierz J, Paśko Ł, Turniak E (2014) Scaling of the sexual size and shape skull dimorphism in the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis L.). Vertebrate Zoology 64(2): 221-227

Abstract

Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) exhibit a clear pattern of sexual dimorphism, both in coloration and body proportions, where males have larger heads and are longer-legged at a given snout-to-vent length (SVL). In this study we analyse allometry of skull growth with SVL and skull length (SL) as references. The sand lizard skull is basically sexually size dimorphic and there are only minor shape differences. When SVL is used as a reference point, it generates differences in all traits to be measured, presumably because SVL is subject to different and strong selection pressures in both sexes. When skull length is taken as a reference point, differences in skull shape are restricted only to the postorbital region, which is wider in males. This may reflect selection pressure on stronger bite force in males.

Keywords

Reptilia: Sauria: Lacertidae: Lacerta agilis; sexual dimorphism; allometry; skull