Morphological variation of African snakehead (Parachanna obscura) populations along climate and habitat gradients in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa

Abstract Intraspecific morphological variation may reflect phenotypic plasticity or adaptive divergence. While shape divergence occur more likely among isolated populations with reduced gene flow, responses to heterogeneous environments, even in spatially connected populations. We evaluated both processes while examining variations seven wild of snakehead fish ( Parachanna obscura ) along climate and habitat gradients Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. Morphological were studied by multivariate canonical variate analysis (CVA) as based on geometric morphometrics 15 body landmarks. Correlations between characteristics geographic distances calculated. found significant the The concentrated landmarks related swimming feeding, suggesting a contribution environmental differentiation. However, we did not detect effects variables shape. trend geographical was likewise significant. Therefore, mechanistic understanding factors causing P. Africa could yet be achieved.