Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Wyneken, Jeanette

Abstract

A phylogeny of Mexican Ambystoma salamanders was constructed using larval morphology. Characters were scored for 19 ambystomatid species from Mexico and North America Twenty-five continuous characters came from external measurements of cranial and branchial features and ratios of measurements. Twenty-six categorical characters were scored from internal and external larval, branchial, and cranial features, as well as overall color and adult life history. Cladograms constructed from individual character matrices lack major resolution beyond individual species level. The consensus cladogram did not resolve the majority of species, and was similar to consensus results from previous cladistic analysis based on molecular characters. Convergent morphology is evident in characters of geographically distant members of the clade. However, species determination was possible for all examined taxa. Neoteny is widespread in the A. tigrinum complex and, as an isolating mechanism, may be the main driver of speciation in the complex.

Extent

68 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2007.|Charles E. Schmidt College of Science|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00000734

Format

pdf

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