Testing the morphological constraint hypothesis of tail length in the sexually dimorphic Cerastes vipera and new perspectives
Abstract The morphological constraint hypothesis (MCH) states that, in snakes, males typically have relatively longer tails than females to accommodate the hemipenes and retractor muscles. To date, most studies testing the MCH have been interspecific and results have been equivocal. We tested the MC...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31624-6 |
| _version_ | 1797864693529837568 |
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| author | Jaim Sivan Itay Tesler Shlomo Hadad Abraham Allan Degen Eli Geffen Michael Kam |
| author_facet | Jaim Sivan Itay Tesler Shlomo Hadad Abraham Allan Degen Eli Geffen Michael Kam |
| author_sort | Jaim Sivan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The morphological constraint hypothesis (MCH) states that, in snakes, males typically have relatively longer tails than females to accommodate the hemipenes and retractor muscles. To date, most studies testing the MCH have been interspecific and results have been equivocal. We tested the MCH intraspecifically on Cerastes vipera, a species with a relatively short tail and suitable for testing the MCH. The relative tail length and length of the hemipenes pocket in Cerastes vipera were measured in preserved museum-maintained males (n = 35) and in free-ranging males and females (n = 277). Males exhibited relatively longer tails than females, which was explained fully by the length of the hemipenes pocket. The relatively short tail of C. vipera presents a constraint to the reproductive structures in males, as the length of the hemipenes pocket occupies a greater proportion in shorter- than longer-tailed individuals. This is the first report presenting these intraspecific findings in support of the MCH. Whether these relations are widespread among snake families, within Viperidae, or specifically within C. vipera warrants further studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:56:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-62dd88ad58a54066943e9107581056cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:56:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-62dd88ad58a54066943e9107581056cc2023-03-22T11:15:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-03-011311710.1038/s41598-023-31624-6Testing the morphological constraint hypothesis of tail length in the sexually dimorphic Cerastes vipera and new perspectivesJaim Sivan0Itay Tesler1Shlomo Hadad2Abraham Allan Degen3Eli Geffen4Michael Kam5Department of Life Sciences, Achva Academic CollegeNegev ZooNegev ZooDesert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the NegevSchool of Zoology, Tel Aviv UniversityDesert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the NegevAbstract The morphological constraint hypothesis (MCH) states that, in snakes, males typically have relatively longer tails than females to accommodate the hemipenes and retractor muscles. To date, most studies testing the MCH have been interspecific and results have been equivocal. We tested the MCH intraspecifically on Cerastes vipera, a species with a relatively short tail and suitable for testing the MCH. The relative tail length and length of the hemipenes pocket in Cerastes vipera were measured in preserved museum-maintained males (n = 35) and in free-ranging males and females (n = 277). Males exhibited relatively longer tails than females, which was explained fully by the length of the hemipenes pocket. The relatively short tail of C. vipera presents a constraint to the reproductive structures in males, as the length of the hemipenes pocket occupies a greater proportion in shorter- than longer-tailed individuals. This is the first report presenting these intraspecific findings in support of the MCH. Whether these relations are widespread among snake families, within Viperidae, or specifically within C. vipera warrants further studies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31624-6 |
| spellingShingle | Jaim Sivan Itay Tesler Shlomo Hadad Abraham Allan Degen Eli Geffen Michael Kam Testing the morphological constraint hypothesis of tail length in the sexually dimorphic Cerastes vipera and new perspectives Scientific Reports |
| title | Testing the morphological constraint hypothesis of tail length in the sexually dimorphic Cerastes vipera and new perspectives |
| title_full | Testing the morphological constraint hypothesis of tail length in the sexually dimorphic Cerastes vipera and new perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Testing the morphological constraint hypothesis of tail length in the sexually dimorphic Cerastes vipera and new perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testing the morphological constraint hypothesis of tail length in the sexually dimorphic Cerastes vipera and new perspectives |
| title_short | Testing the morphological constraint hypothesis of tail length in the sexually dimorphic Cerastes vipera and new perspectives |
| title_sort | testing the morphological constraint hypothesis of tail length in the sexually dimorphic cerastes vipera and new perspectives |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31624-6 |
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