Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Japanese Crocodile Newt, Echinotriton andersoni (Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae), Inferred from Geometric Morphometrics

A study on the Anderson's crocodile newt, Echinotriton andersoni, reveals significant geographic variation in skull morphology across its range in the Central Ryukyus, Japan. Using geometric morphometrics, researchers identified distinct differences between populations from Okinawa Island and those from Amami-Oshima and Tokunoshima Islands, with Taiwanese specimens showing a closer resemblance to females from Amami-Oshima. This finding highlights previously unexplored morphological diversity within this endangered species, which is known for its high genetic variation among islands.

Ozaki, K., Tominaga, A., Matsui, M., Hara, S., & Nishikawa, K. (2023). Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Japanese Crocodile Newt, Echinotriton andersoni (Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae), Inferred from Geometric Morphometrics. Current Herpetology, 42(1). https://doi.org/10.5358/hsj.42.9