Apathya cappadocica is a medium-sized lizard species included in the family Lacertidae. The species is known from Türkiye, Northern Syria, Iraq, and Western Iran. Sexual dimorphism (SD), which is a phenomenon including phenotypic differences between males and females, has many effects on behaviour, shape and size characteristics. A total of 87 adult lizard specimens collected from south-eastern Anatolia were used in this study. The results of ANOVA showed that all morphometric features exhibited a pattern in which males have larger size than females. According to principal component analysis (PCA), the first three factors explain 81.553% of the total variance. Differences in head size between sexes have been well-documented in lizards and are associated with male-male aggression which results in mating success. This kind of pattern is supported by this study. Additionally, the results showed that males have more femoral pores, which is a signalling mechanism for sexual selection, than females. In conclusion, it can be accepted that the species in the genus Apathya has a similar pattern in accordance with the larger male theory.
Primary Language | English |
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Subjects | Structural Biology |
Journal Section | Research Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | June 3, 2023 |
Acceptance Date | February 26, 2023 |
Published in Issue | Year 2023 Volume: 32 Issue: 1 |
Communications Faculty of Sciences University of Ankara Series C-Biology.
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