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Morphological Divergence of Hermann's Tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovits, 1889) in Albania
| Content Provider | MDPI |
|---|---|
| Author | Bekta, ş Sönmez Ozan, Gündemir Duro, Sokol Jashari, Tefik Szara, Tomasz |
| Copyright Year | 2021 |
| Description | Testudines show phenotypic plasticity, and variation among specific populations within a species is widespread. Morphological differences between populations may reflect ecological factors that drive adaptation to local conditions. In this context, we gathered basic data on the morphology of the Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri Mojsisovits, 1889) to document their variation across different geographical regions. We surveyed Hermann’s tortoises in five different locales within Albania during April and May 2020 and measured 20 morphological characteristics, including carapace and plastron dimensions. We measured 188 tortoises (81 males, 107 females) in this study, and females were larger (p = 0.0001) and heavier (p = 0.0001) than males. Mean straight carapace length (SCL) and body mass were 172.4 mm and 1128.8 g, respectively, for females, and 151.3 mm and 735 g, respectively, for males. The Albanian T. h. boettgeri were regionally diverged into three different populations that were situated in northern (Shkodra), central (Tirana, Berati, and Ballshi), and southern (Saranda) Albania. The body size (curved carapace length (CCL)) of females was positively correlated (r = 0.216; p = 0.025) with the latitude, in accordance with Bergmann’s rule. However, there was no correlation between body size and latitude in males. These striking regional differences among Albanian T. h. boettgeri strongly suggest that further study of molecular variations and reproductive output of Hermann’s tortoises is warranted. |
| Starting Page | 134 |
| e-ISSN | 20762615 |
| DOI | 10.3390/ani11010134 |
| Journal | Animals |
| Issue Number | 1 |
| Volume Number | 11 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | MDPI |
| Publisher Date | 2021-01-09 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Animals Paleontology Zoology Bergmann's Rule Carapace Morphometry Plastron Scutes Hermann's Tortoises Testudo Hermanni Boettgeri |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
