Morphological Correlates of Locomotor Performance in Four Species of Lizards Using Different Habitats

We used four species of lizards (Eumeces chinensis,Takydromus septentrionalis,Eremias brenchleyi and Calotes versicolor) that use different habitats as the experimental models to study variation in locomotor performance resulting from inter-specific differences in morphological traits.The sequence of body size measuring by snout-vent length (SVL) was E.chinensis (a ground-dwelling lizard)>C.versicolor (an arboreal lizard)>T.septentrionalis (a grass-dwelling lizard)>E.brenchleyi (a saxicolous lizard). Head size,limb length and tail length relative to SVL were the greatest in C.versicolor,intermediate in E.brenchleyi and T.septentrionalis,and the smallest in E.chinensis.Body height relative to SVL was the greatest in T.septentrionalis,intermediate in E.chinensis and C.versicolor,and the smallest in E.brenchleyi.On a horizontal racetrack,E.brenchleyi and T.septentrionalis run faster than did E.chinensis and C.versicolor.On an oblique racetrack,E.brenchleyi and C.versicolor run faster than did E.chinensis.The cling ability was the greatest in C.versicolor but the lowest in E.chinensis.Our data provide a support for the previous predictions that locomotion of animals has clear morphological determinants and that morphological variation may have fitness consequences through affecting locomotor performance.