Morphobank

Project 4084: E. Tschopp, J. G. Napoli, L. C. Wencker, M. Delfino, P. Upchurch. 2022. How to Render Species Comparable Taxonomic Units Through Deep Time: A Case Study on Intraspecific Osteological Variability in Extant and Extinct Lacertid Lizards. Systematic Biology. 71 (4):875-900.

Specimen: Lacerta media NHMW34809 (NHMW:34809)
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Abstract

Generally, the species is considered to be the only naturally occurring taxon. However, species recognized and defined using different species delimitation criteria cannot readily be compared, impacting studies of biodiversity through Deep Time. This comparability issue is particularly marked when comparing extant with extinct species because the only available data for species delimitation in fossils are derived from their preserved morphology, which is generally restricted to osteology in vertebrates. Here, we quantify intraspecific, intrageneric, and intergeneric osteological variability in extant species of lacertid lizards using pairwise dissimilarity scores based on a data set of 253 discrete osteological characters for 99 specimens referred to 24 species. Variability is always significantly lower intraspecifically than between individuals belonging to distinct species of a single genus, which is in turn significantly lower than intergeneric variability. Average values of intraspecific variability and associated standard deviations are consistent (with few exceptions), with an overall average within a species of 0.208 changes per character scored. Application of the same methods to six extinct lacertid species (represented by 40 fossil specimens) revealed that intraspecific osteological variability is inconsistent, which can at least in part be attributed to different researchers having unequal expectations of the skeletal dissimilarity within species units. Such a divergent interpretation of intraspecific and interspecific variability among extant and extinct species reinforces the incomparability of the species unit. Lacertidae is an example where extant species recognized and defined based on a number of delimitation criteria show comparable and consistent intraspecific osteological variability. Here, as well as in equivalent cases, application of those skeletal dissimilarity values to paleontological species delimitation potentially provides a way to ameliorate inconsistencies created by the use of morphology to define species.

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Article DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syab078

Project DOI: 10.7934/P4084, http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/P4084

This project contains	Matrices
1 Media 1 Matrix 139 Taxa 1 Specimen 253 Characters Total size of project's media files: 6.38M Download Project SDD File	Total scored cells: 17839 Total media associated with cells: 0 Total labels associated with cell media: 0
	Characters
	Total characters: 253 Total characters with associated media: 0 Total characters with media with labels: 0 Total character states: 544 Total character states with associated media: 0 Total character states with media with labels:0 Total unordered/ordered characters:225/28

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MorphoBank Project 4084

Creation Date:
09 September 2021
Publication Date:
04 July 2024

Authors' Institutions

Universitaet Hamburg (University of Hamburg)

University College London

Università degli Studi di Torino (University of Turin)

American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)

Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Members

Emanuel Tschopp
Project Administrator

139

253

246

17839
(17578, 0, 261)

4640

Taxonomic Overview for Matrix 'M27646' (139 Taxa)

taxon	unscored cells	scored cells	no cell support	NPA cells	"-" cells	cell images	labels on cell images	member access
[1] Gallotia caesaris SRK00-346 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	132	117	111	0	4	0	0	1
[2] Gallotia simonyi nhmw849 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	34	217	179	0	3	0	0	1
[3] Gallotia stehlini MNCN22226 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	140	111	83	0	2	0	0	1
[4] Psammodromus algirus amnh-r59605 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	117	133	132	0	4	0	0	1
[5] Psammodromus algirus amnh-r92976 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	88	162	162	0	3	0	0	1
[6] Psammodromus algirus NHMW788 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	35	214	105	0	4	0	0	1
[7] Psammodromus algirus UAMR-PS-9 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	66	186	159	0	2	0	0	1
[8] Ophisops elegans MDHC 281 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	33	213	139	0	7	0	0	1
[9] Ophisops elegans MDHC 282 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	44	204	123	0	5	0	0	1
[10] Ophisops elegans amnh-r43265 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	137	109	109	0	7	0	0	1
[11] Ophisops elegans amnh-r90235 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	117	129	129	0	7	0	0	1
[12] Iberolacerta cyreni UAMR-Lm4 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	77	172	150	0	4	0	0	1
[13] Iberolacerta monticola UAMR-Lm77 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	92	156	134	0	5	0	0	1
[14] Iberolacerta monticola UAMR-Lm92 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	94	153	136	0	6	0	0	1
[15] Podarcis hispanicus UAMR-H30 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	54	194	167	0	5	0	0	1
[16] Podarcis muralis MDHC 311 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	43	206	130	0	4	0	0	1
[17] Podarcis muralis MDHC 312 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	55	196	131	0	3	0	0	1
[18] Podarcis muralis MDHC 313 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	71	178	110	0	4	0	0	1
[19] Podarcis muralis NHMUK1920.1.20.801 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	152	97	80	0	4	0	0	1
[20] Podarcis siculus MDHC 25 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	28	224	144	0	3	0	0	1
[21] Podarcis siculus MDHC 125 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	43	209	138	0	1	0	0	1
[22] Podarcis siculus amnh-r110436 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	79	168	168	0	6	0	0	1
[23] Podarcis tiliguerta MDHC 153 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	31	220	140	0	3	0	0	1
[24] Podarcis tiliguerta MDHC 154 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	38	214	134	0	3	0	0	1
[25] Podarcis waglerianus MDHC 390 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	26	225	143	0	3	0	0	1
[26] Timon pater NHMUK1920.1.20.2722 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	83	170	150	0	2	0	0	1
[27] Timon pater NHMUK1920.1.20.1259 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	102	150	132	0	3	0	0	1
[28] Timon pater GMZ D.36 X.171 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	136	116	99	0	1	0	0	1
[29] Timon kurdistanicus NHMW18545 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	86	168	73	0	1	0	0	1
[30] Timon princeps NHMW32881 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	85	168	72	0	1	0	0	1
[31] Timon lepidus CIPA761 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	152	99	83	0	2	0	0	1
[32] Timon lepidus MDHC 216 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	25	227	156	0	1	0	0	1
[33] Timon lepidus amnh-r57770 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	71	180	180	0	2	0	0	1
[34] Timon lepidus MNCN41021 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	132	120	95	0	1	0	0	1
[35] Timon lepidus MNHN1887-545 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	99	154	134	0	1	0	0	1
[36] Timon lepidus MRAC3390 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	91	160	122	0	2	0	0	1
[37] Timon lepidus MRAC92-050-R-1 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	55	198	169	0	1	0	0	1
[38] Timon lepidus NHMW699 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	47	205	104	0	2	0	0	1
[39] Timon lepidus PIMUZ A/III0965 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	117	134	84	0	2	0	0	1
[40] Timon lepidus GMZ VD36.X1246 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	184	70	59	0	0	0	0	1
[41] Lacerta agilis amnh-r76854 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	69	183	182	0	2	0	0	1
[42] Lacerta agilis CIPA1550 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	51	199	122	0	3	0	0	1
[43] Lacerta agilis MDHC 176 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	28	227	140	0	0	0	0	1
[44] Lacerta agilis MDHC 177 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	25	226	148	0	2	0	0	1
[45] Lacerta agilis MDHC 178 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	30	222	128	0	2	0	0	1
[46] Lacerta agilis MDHC 230 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	36	217	102	0	1	0	0	1
[47] Lacerta agilis MDHC 231 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	24	228	145	0	1	0	0	1
[48] Lacerta agilis MNCN15979 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	120	132	100	0	1	0	0	1
[49] Lacerta agilis MNHN1963-49 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	113	140	126	0	1	0	0	1
[50] Lacerta agilis NHMW802 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	45	204	85	0	4	0	0	1
[51] Lacerta agilis PIMUZ A/III0902 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	172	79	47	0	2	0	0	1
[52] Lacerta agilis ZMH-R12174 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	86	165	147	0	2	0	0	1
[53] Lacerta bilineata MDHC 15 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	27	224	110	0	3	0	0	1
[54] Lacerta bilineata MDHC 48 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	85	164	96	0	4	0	0	1
[55] Lacerta bilineata MDHC 73 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	103	148	63	0	3	0	0	1
[56] Lacerta bilineata MDHC 77 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	35	220	110	0	1	0	0	1
[57] Lacerta bilineata MDHC 84 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	49	204	105	0	1	0	0	1
[58] Lacerta bilineata MDHC 381 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	85	167	61	0	1	0	0	1
[59] Lacerta bilineata MDHC 420 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	60	192	124	0	1	0	0	1
[60] Lacerta bilineata amnh-r1148 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	107	145	144	0	2	0	0	1
[61] Lacerta bilineata amnh-r109472 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	129	121	120	0	4	0	0	1
[62] Lacerta bilineata MNCN16505 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	115	137	102	0	2	0	0	1
[63] Lacerta bilineata PIMUZ A/III1276 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	108	145	98	0	1	0	0	1
[64] Lacerta bilineata UAM Q21 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	54	198	168	0	3	0	0	1
[65] Lacerta media NHMV-34808 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	113	136	136	0	4	0	0	1
[66] Lacerta media NHMW34809 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	125	127	53	0	1	0	0	1
[67] Lacerta media HUJ-OST-Z-299 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	153	97	91	0	3	0	0	1
[68] Lacerta media HUJ-OST-Z-396 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	152	100	95	0	1	0	0	1
[69] Lacerta schreiberi CIPA778 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	82	170	125	0	2	0	0	1
[70] Lacerta schreiberi CIPA1256 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	147	104	97	0	3	0	0	1
[71] Lacerta schreiberi CIPA1511 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	151	101	90	0	2	0	0	1
[72] Lacerta schreiberi CIPA1517 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	138	114	108	0	2	0	0	1
[73] Lacerta schreiberi NHMUK1906.10.30.14 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	97	154	138	0	3	0	0	1
[74] Lacerta schreiberi UAM S-6 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	61	194	163	0	2	0	0	1
[75] Lacerta strigata MDHC 304 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	39	212	128	0	2	0	0	1
[76] Lacerta strigata NHMW10918 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	72	180	93	0	2	0	0	1
[77] Lacerta strigata NHMV-39765 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	115	136	136	0	2	0	0	1
[78] Lacerta trilineata MDHC 240 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	50	202	93	0	1	0	0	1
[79] Lacerta trilineata MDHC 241 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	56	198	76	0	2	0	0	1
[80] Lacerta trilineata MDHC 295 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	57	195	125	0	1	0	0	1
[81] Lacerta trilineata MDHC 356 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	43	209	130	0	1	0	0	1
[82] Lacerta trilineata MRAC95-050-R-0001 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	57	196	169	0	1	0	0	1
[83] Lacerta trilineata MRAC95-050-R-0002 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	48	205	178	0	1	0	0	1
[84] Lacerta trilineata NHMUK1914.1.12.1 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	73	177	149	0	3	0	0	1
[85] Lacerta trilineata ZZSiD-R-235-76 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	58	192	165	0	4	0	0	1
[86] Lacerta viridis amnh-r154761 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	62	189	188	0	3	0	0	1
[87] Lacerta viridis amnh-r154762 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	84	168	167	0	2	0	0	1
[88] Lacerta viridis MNCN16504 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	232	21	18	0	0	0	0	1
[89] Lacerta viridis MNHN1888-139 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	129	122	108	0	2	0	0	1
[90] Lacerta viridis MNHN1887-813 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	129	123	107	0	3	0	0	1
[91] Lacerta viridis MRAC91-077-R-76 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	51	202	171	0	2	0	0	1
[92] Lacerta viridis NHMW887 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	34	216	95	0	3	0	0	1
[93] Lacerta viridis NHMW906 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	41	210	92	0	2	0	0	1
[94] Lacerta viridis NHMW32879-3 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	63	191	97	0	1	0	0	1
[95] Lacerta viridis ZZSiD-R-287-80 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	68	184	156	0	1	0	0	1
[96] Lacerta viridis ZZSiD-R-463-87 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	67	186	157	0	2	0	0	1
[97] Lacerta pamphylica ZSM 939/2005 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	108	144	125	0	1	0	0	1
[98] Lacerta pamphylica NHMV 35861 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	108	146	128	0	0	0	0	1
[99] Lacerta pamphylica ZSM 1047/2005 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	151	101	90	0	1	0	0	1
[100] † Dracaenosaurus croizeti UCBL97682 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	241	11	11	0	1	0	0	1
[101] † Dracaenosaurus croizeti UCBL97690 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	238	14	14	0	1	0	0	1
[102] † Dracaenosaurus croizeti CodH1-75 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	234	18	17	0	1	0	0	1
[103] † Dracaenosaurus croitezi CodCoucheVerteE1-25 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	232	19	19	0	2	0	0	1
[104] † Dracaenosaurus croizeti MNHN-COR5 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	215	36	36	0	2	0	0	1
[105] † Dracaenosaurus croitezi MNHN-F-COR7 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	125	123	103	0	5	0	0	1
[106] † Dracaenosaurus croitezi MNHN-COR4 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	204	46	45	0	3	0	0	1
[107] † Lacerta siculimelitensis MA type Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	240	13	10	0	0	0	0	1
[108] † Lacerta siculimelitensis SG Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	202	51	31	0	0	0	0	1
[109] † Lacerta siculimelitensis CF Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	235	18	12	0	0	0	0	1
[110] † Lacerta siculimelitensis Orosei Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	101	153	149	0	0	0	0	1
[111] † Lacerta siculimelitensis GA Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	194	61	52	0	0	0	0	1
[112] † Lacerta filholi type MNHN-PFR11001 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	239	14	14	0	0	0	0	1
[113] † Lacerta filholi MNHN-PFR11013 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	239	14	14	0	0	0	0	1
[114] † Lacerta filholi MNHN-PFR11015 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	243	9	9	0	1	0	0	1
[115] † Lacerta filholi UCBL-FSL97689 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	241	11	9	0	1	0	0	1
[116] † Mediolacerta roceki MNHN-PFR 11006 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	239	13	13	0	1	0	0	1
[117] † Mediolacerta roceki SMNS 59446 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	234	20	19	0	0	0	0	1
[118] † Mediolacerta roceki MNHN-PFR11002 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	241	12	12	0	0	0	0	1
[119] † Mediolacerta roceki MNHN-QU17728 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	231	22	22	0	0	0	0	1
[120] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri MNHN-ECB1702 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	242	10	10	0	1	0	0	1
[121] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri MNHN-QU17179 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	239	14	14	0	0	0	0	1
[122] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri MNHN-QU17166 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	232	21	21	0	0	0	0	1
[123] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri MNHN-QU17676 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	242	11	8	0	0	0	0	1
[124] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri MNHN-QU17713 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	246	6	5	0	1	0	0	1
[125] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri MNHN-QU17727 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	238	14	14	0	1	0	0	1
[126] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri MNHN-QU17745 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	232	21	20	0	0	0	0	1
[127] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri MNHN-QU17168 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	238	14	13	0	1	0	0	1
[128] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri MNHN SNM1 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	248	5	5	0	0	0	0	1
[129] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri USTL-BRT857 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	246	7	5	0	0	0	0	1
[130] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri USTL-LAV1274 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	252	1	1	0	0	0	0	1
[131] † Plesiolacerta lydekkeri USTL-PRR2005 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	243	10	8	0	0	0	0	1
[132] † Pseudeumeces cadurcensis MNHN PFR11004 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	232	21	21	0	0	0	0	1
[133] † Pseudeumeces cadurcensis MNHN-QU17169 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	221	32	31	0	0	0	0	1
[134] † Pseudeumeces cadurcensis MNHN-QU17180 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	233	20	20	0	0	0	0	1
[135] † Pseudeumeces cadurcensis MNHN-QU17749 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	241	11	11	0	1	0	0	1
[136] † Pseudeumeces cadurcensis RH-B2?0023 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	234	19	18	0	0	0	0	1
[137] † Pseudeumeces cadurcensis RH-B2?771 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	233	20	18	0	0	0	0	1
[138] † Pseudeumeces cadurcensis RH-B2?775 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	241	12	9	0	0	0	0	1
[139] † Pseudeumeces cadurcensis RH-B2?1179 Taxon name last Modified on 09/09/21	236	16	14	0	1	0	0	1