Graphical model of the significant partial correlations illustrated as boxes between limb elements () of adult individuals [13]. H: humerus; R: radius; MC: metacarpal; F: femur; T: tibia; MT: metatarsal. Partial correlations measure a correlation between two variables that are independent of information from the other variables in the correlation matrix. The significance of partial correlations was assessed using an information theoretic measure known as the edge exclusion deviance (EED) and the distribution: EED = , where is the sample size, and is the partial correlation coefficient between variables and [31]. The two variables were conditionally independent when the EED value was less than 3.84 (corresponding to , df = 1 from the distribution). In T. dobrogicus, significant edges were present only between homologous limb elements. This finding is in opposition to T. arntzeni (T. karelinii group) which had high partial correlations within limbs between the stylopod and zeugopod elements. T. arntzeni (T. karelinii group) had a stronger correlation of skeletal elements within the limbs than between fore- and hindlimbs. The partial correlations between limb elements in T. cristatus and T. macedonicus were intermediate with regard to the previous species, with variable significant edges between homologous and within-limb elements.