Data from: Claw morphometrics in monitor lizards: variable substrate and habitat use correlate to shape diversity within a predator guild

Numerous studies investigate morphology in the context of habitat, and lizards have received particular attention. Substrate usage is often reflected in the morphology of characters associated with locomotion, and, as a result, claws have become well‐studied ecomorphological traits linking the two. The Kimberley predator guild of Western Australia consists of 10 sympatric varanid species. The purpose of this study was to quantify claw size and shape in the guild using geometric morphometrics, and determine whether these features correlated with substrate use and habitat. Each species was assigned a Habitat/substrate group based on the substrate their claws interact with in their respective habitat. Claw morphometrics were derived for both wild caught and preserved specimens from museum collections, using a 2D semilandmark analysis. Claw shape significantly separated based on Habitat/substrate group. Varanus gouldii and Varanus panoptes claws were associated with sprinting and extensive digging. Varanus mertensi claws were for shallow excavation. The remaining species’ claws reflected specialization for some form of climbing, and differed based on substrate compliance. Varanus glauerti was best adapted for climbing rough sandstone, whereas Varanus scalaris and Varanus tristis had claws ideal for puncturing wood. Phylogenetic signal also significantly influenced claw shape, with Habitat/substrate group limited to certain clades. Positive size allometry allowed for claws to cope with mass increases, and shape allometry reflected a potential size limit on climbing. Claw morphology may facilitate niche separation within this trophic guild, especially when considered with body size. As these varanids are generalist predators, morphological traits associated with locomotion may be more reliable candidates for detecting niche partitioning than those associated directly with diet.

Usage Notes
Dryad dataAllometric data, Principal components, and Procrustes distances for all claws.

众多研究在栖息地背景下探讨形态学，蜥蜴尤其受到关注。底质的使用往往体现在与运动相关的形态特征上，因此爪子已成为连接两者的一种被广泛研究的生态形态学特征。澳大利亚西部的金伯利捕食者群体由10种同域的鬣蜥物种组成。本研究旨在利用几何形态学量化该群体中爪子的大小和形状，并确定这些特征是否与底质使用和栖息地相关。根据各自栖息地中爪子所接触的底质，每种物种都被分配到一个栖息地/底质组。爪子形态学测量值是通过使用二维半标记分析从野生捕获和博物馆藏品中保存的标本中得出的。爪子形状在栖息地/底质组之间显著分离。Varanus gouldii和Varanus panoptes的爪子与短距离冲刺和广泛挖掘相关。Varanus mertensi的爪子适用于浅层挖掘。其他物种的爪子反映了某种形式的攀爬的专门化，并且根据底质的适应性而有所不同。Varanus glauerti最适合攀爬粗糙的砂岩，而Varanus scalaris和Varanus tristis的爪子则适合刺穿木材。系统发育信号也显著影响了爪子形状，栖息地/底质组仅限于某些分支。正的大小异速生长使得爪子能够应对质量的增加，而形状异速生长反映了攀爬的潜在大小限制。爪子形态可能有助于在该营养群内实现生态位分离，尤其是当考虑到体型大小。由于这些鬣蜥是泛食性捕食者，与运动相关的形态学特征可能比与饮食直接相关的特征更可靠地用于检测生态位划分。使用说明：Dryad数据包括所有爪子的异速生长数据、主成分和Procrustes距离。