aDepartment of Population Biology, Institute of Vertebrate Biology AS CR, Studenec 122, 675 02 Koněšín, Czech Republic
bDepartment of Zoology and Ecology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
Abstract:
1. The influence of interspecific hybridization on temperature preferences and morphology was examined in newts, Triturus carnifex and Triturus dobrogicus, before and after metamorphosis.
2. Thermoregulatory behavior was measured in an aquatic thermal gradient (5–32.5 °C) during 24 h.
3. Hybrid temperature preferences were similar to preferences of maternal species in both premetamorphic larvae and recently metamorphosed individuals.
4. Hybrid morphology (i.e., forelimb length and axilla–groin distance) was intermediate relative to parental species.
5. The mismatch between morphology and thermal preference in hybrid phenotypes indicates potential hybrid disadvantage in both intermediate and parental habitats.