Morphometry of Anolis tropidonotus (Peters 1863, Squamata: Dactyloidae) populations from contrasting habitats.

Objective: To evaluate variations in shape and size of two populations of A. tropidonotus from two habitats with contrasting vegetation and environmental characteristics. Design/Methodology/Approach: Twenty-six A. tropidonotus specimens were collected and photographed using the TpsDig2 software. Subsequently, three type-I and eight type-II landmarks and nine semi-landmarks were placed. The landmark configuration patterns were evaluated using generalized procrustean and principal component analyses to detect microvariations in individuals of both populations. Results: The results show intra- and inter-population geometric morphometric variations in A. tropidonotus. Study Limitations/Implications: The geometric morphometric variations recorded in A. tropidonotus populations may be caused by biological barriers, clinal variations within the same habitat, competition for territory, different reproductive behaviors in part of the population, and reproductive and physical barriers that generate differentiation between and within A. tropidonotus populations. Findings/Conclusions: The morphometric traits of A. tropidonotus showed a wide diversity of shapes. Geometric morphometry was used to differentiate various ecotypes in the evaluated populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]