Figure 9. Character history of the width of the fourth phalanx of digit four compared to the character history of grasping abilities.

Left tree: character history of the width of the fourth phalanx of digit four. The plesiomorphic and most frequent states in the tree are intermediate values (green range). The widest phalanx was independently acquired in Ameiva sp., Uromastix sp., Ameivula sp., and Proctoporus sp. The narrowing of the fourth phalanges began in the branch that gave rise to Gekkota, with Phyllopezus sp. and Thechadactylus sp. displaying the maximum expression of this process. Gymnophthalmidae and Teiidae show a wide range of values. Right tree: character history of grasping abilities.