The role of beak shape in octopodid taxonomy

Ogden, R.S.; Allcock, A.L.; Watts, P.C.; Thorpe, J.P.. 1998 The role of beak shape in octopodid taxonomy. South African Journal of Marine Science, 20. 29-36.

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Abstract/Summary

Beak shapes in nine species of Southern Ocean octopodids were measured using seven size-standardized ratios. The results were analysed using principal component analysis and discriminant function analysis and show that beak shape may be used as a taxonomic character to distinguish between genera, but not between species. Stepwise discriminant function analysis indicated that all seven ratios were required to maximize discrimination between beaks. A phenogram constructed from a matrix of Mahalanobis distances differed from a dendrogram produced from genetic data. This suggests that, although useful for discrimination, beak morphology is probably not suitable for constructing phylogenies.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Other
ISSN:	0257-7615
Additional Keywords:	Octopus;
NORA Subject Terms:	Marine Sciences Biology and Microbiology Zoology
Date made live:	13 Aug 2010 11:09 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10131

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Other

ISSN:

0257-7615

Additional Keywords:

Octopus;

NORA Subject Terms:

Marine Sciences
Biology and Microbiology
Zoology

Date made live:

13 Aug 2010 11:09 +0 (UTC)