Data from: Locomotor mode and the evolution of the hindlimb in Western Mediterranean Anurans

The evolutionary association between morphology, locomotor performance and habitat use is a central element of the ecomorphological paradigm, and it is known to underlie the evolution of phenotypic diversity in numerous animal taxa. In anuran amphibians the hindlimb acts as the propulsive agent, and as such, it is directly associated with jumping performance. In this study we combine individual- and species-level analyses to examine the effects of locomotor mode on body size and hindlimb morphology of Western Mediterranean anurans. In addition to the commonly studied hindlimb traits, we also examine the ratio between tibiofibula and femur length. Body size shows no signs of an evolutionary association to locomotor mode. Instead, hindlimb traits are significantly differentiated between locomotor groups, both at the individual and species levels. Specifically, we observe a gradient of tibiofibula to femur ratio values that matches biomechanical predictions. The analysis of adult static allometries indicates that these differences arise early in ontogeny. By comparing the fit of distinct evolutionary models we provide evidence that the locomotor mode adopted by each species to match the requirements of the habitat it frequents has shaped the evolution of the hindlimb, but not body size.形态特征、运动性能与生境利用之间的演化关联，是生态形态学范式（ecomorphological paradigm）的核心内容之一，且已知其支撑着众多动物类群的表型多样性（phenotypic diversity）演化。对于无尾两栖类（anuran amphibians）而言，后肢作为主要推进器官，直接与其跳跃性能相关联。本研究结合个体水平与物种水平的分析方法，探究运动模式对西地中海地区无尾两栖类的体型及后肢形态的影响。除了常规研究的后肢性状外，本研究还考察了胫腓骨（tibiofibula）与股骨（femur）的长度比值。体型与运动模式之间未发现存在演化关联的迹象。与之相反，无论在个体水平还是物种水平，不同运动模式类群的后肢性状均存在显著分化。具体而言，本研究观测到胫腓骨与股骨长度比值的梯度变化符合生物力学预测结果。对成体静态异速生长（static allometries）的分析表明，这类差异在个体发育早期便已形成。通过比较不同演化模型的拟合效果，本研究证实：各物种为适配其栖息生境需求所采用的运动模式，塑造了其后肢的演化，但并未对体型演化产生影响。