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Sexual Dimorphism in the Three-toed Amphiuma, Amphiuma tridactylum: Sexual Selection or Ecological Causes?
- Article from:
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Copeia
- Article date:
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March 21, 2008
- Author:
- Fontenot, Clifford L Jr; Seigel, Richard A
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Copyright informationCopyright American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Mar 21, 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Sexual dimorphism is widespread among vertebrates, and may be attributable to sexual selection, differences in ecology between the sexes, or both. The large aquatic salamander, Amphiuma tridactylum, has been suggested to have male biased sexual dimorphism that is attributable to male-male combat, although detailed evidence is lacking. To test this, data were collected on A. tridactylum head and body size, as well as on bite-marks inflicted by conspecifics. Amphiuma tridactylum is sexually dimorphic in several characters. There was no sex difference in body length, but males had heavier bodies than females of the same body length. Larger males had wider and longer heads than larger females, ...