Patterns of Morphological Covariation in Partula

Patterns of morphological covariation were quantified with factor analysis for 32 populations representing the seven closely related species of Partula snails from the island of Moorea, French Polynesia. Variation in the patterns of covariation shows little connection with the taxonomic hierarchy in this group and does not reflect the reproductive relationships of these species. Nevertheless, there are associations of patterns of covariation with morphologically and geographically recognized subspecies in the two most diverse species, P.taeniata and P.suturalis. Among species, there is an association between the similarity of morphological covariation and genetic similarity, as measured by allozymes. Morphological covariation in Partula on Moorea provides no special information for distinguishing taxa and appears to have evolved gradually, without sudden or discontinuous change, and independently of speciation