Repeated and Time-Correlated Morphological Convergence in Cave-Dwelling Harvestmen (Opiliones Laniatores) from Montane Western North America

摘要

BackgroundMany cave-dwelling animal species display similar morphologies (troglomorphism) that have evolved convergent within and among lineages under the similar selective pressures imposed by cave habitats. Here we study such ecomorphological evolution in cave-dwelling Sclerobuninae harvestmen (Opiliones) from the western United States, providing general insights into morphological homoplasy, rates of morphological change, and the temporal context of cave evolution.