On 1/22/07, Dann Pigdon <dannj@alphalink.com.au> wrote:Actually, the Anoles that were introduced to islands with trees (that used climbing as a predator escape) developed longer legs. Those on islands dominated by low dense shrubs reduced their leg lengths. Both facilitated faster escapes; long legs allowed faster climbing, while short legs allowed a faster escape through dense vegetation.
What I've had read was that inicially Anolis lizzards with longer legs
were favoured, but latter short-legged one became more numerous.
Anyway I would emphasize *escape* rather than faster - once Anolis go up in to shrubs or trees in a secure height they stop to run.
We're actually talking about two different experiments. I was thinking of:
Dann Pigdon GIS / Archaeologist http://www.geocities.com/dannsdinosaurs Melbourne, Australia http://heretichides.soffiles.com ___________________________________________________________________