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Kotsakiozi P, Antoniou A, Psonis N, Sagonas Κ, Karameta E, Ilgaz Ç, Kumlutaş Y, Avcı A, Jablonski D, Darriba D, Stamatakis A, Lymberakis P, Poulakakis N. Cryptic diversity and phylogeographic patterns of Mediodactylus species in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 197:108091. [PMID: 38719080 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Cryptic diversity poses a great obstacle in our attempts to assess the current biodiversity crisis and may hamper conservation efforts. The gekkonid genus Mediodactylus, a well-known case of hidden species and genetic diversity, has been taxonomically reclassified several times during the last decade. Focusing on the Mediterranean populations, a recent study within the M. kotschyi species complex using classic mtDNA/nuDNA markers suggested the existence of five distinct species, some being endemic and some possibly threatened, yet their relationships have not been fully resolved. Here, we generated genome-wide SNPs (using ddRADseq) and applied molecular species delimitation approaches and population genomic analyses to further disentangle these relationships. Τhe most extensive nuclear dataset, so far, encompassing 2,360 loci and ∼ 699,000 bp from across the genome of Mediodactylus gecko, enabled us to resolve previously obscure phylogenetic relationships among the five, recently elevated, Mediodactylus species and to support the hypothesis that the taxon includes several new, undescribed species. Population genomic analyses within each of the proposed species showed strong genetic structure and high levels of genetic differentiation among populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayiota Kotsakiozi
- Natural History Museum of Crete, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Knossos Avenue, Heraklion 71409, Greece; Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, Heraklion 70013, Greece.
| | - Aglaia Antoniou
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Heraklion 71003, P.O. Box 2214, Crete, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Psonis
- Natural History Museum of Crete, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Knossos Avenue, Heraklion 71409, Greece; Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, Heraklion 70013, Greece
| | - Κostas Sagonas
- Natural History Museum of Crete, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Knossos Avenue, Heraklion 71409, Greece; Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, Heraklion 70013, Greece
| | - Emmanouela Karameta
- Natural History Museum of Crete, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Knossos Avenue, Heraklion 71409, Greece; Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, Heraklion 70013, Greece
| | - Çetin Ilgaz
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Dokuz Eylül University, Buca/İzmir 35160, Türkiye
| | - Yusuf Kumlutaş
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Dokuz Eylül University, Buca/İzmir 35160, Türkiye
| | - Aziz Avcı
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09010, Türkiye
| | - Daniel Jablonski
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Diego Darriba
- Computer Architecture Group, Centro de investigación CITIC, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Alexandros Stamatakis
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece; Computational Molecular Evolution Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Informatics, Institute of Theoretical Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe 76128, Germany
| | - Petros Lymberakis
- Natural History Museum of Crete, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Knossos Avenue, Heraklion 71409, Greece
| | - Nikos Poulakakis
- Natural History Museum of Crete, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Knossos Avenue, Heraklion 71409, Greece; Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, Heraklion 70013, Greece
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Ceríaco LMP, Marques MP, de Sousa ACA, Veríssimo J, Beja P, Ferreira S. Illustrated keys and a DNA barcode reference library of the amphibians and terrestrial reptiles (Amphibia, Reptilia) of São Tomé and Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea, West Africa). Zookeys 2023; 1168:41-75. [PMID: 37415718 PMCID: PMC10320720 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1168.101334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The herpetofauna of São Tomé and Príncipe consists of nine species of amphibians, all endemic, and 21 species of terrestrial reptiles, of which 17 are endemic. Our current knowledge regarding its natural history, ecology, and distribution is limited. Here two important tools are provided to support researchers, conservationists, and local authorities in the identification of the country's herpetofauna: an illustrated key to the herpetofauna of the two islands and surroundings islets and a DNA barcode reference library. The keys allow a rapid and unambiguous morphological identification of all occurring species. The DNA barcodes for the entire herpetofauna of the country were produced from 79 specimens, all of which are deposited in museum collections. The barcodes generated are available in online repositories and can be used to provide unambiguous molecular identification of most of the species. Future applications and use of these tools are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Miguel Pires Ceríaco
- Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia (Museu Bocage), Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência & Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical (IICT), Universidade de Lisboa, Rua da Escola Politécnica, 58, 1269-102 Lisboa, Portugal
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacional, Departamento de Vertebrados, Av. Bartolomeu de Gusmão 875, São Cristóvão, 20941-160 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Mariana Pimentel Marques
- Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia (Museu Bocage), Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência & Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical (IICT), Universidade de Lisboa, Rua da Escola Politécnica, 58, 1269-102 Lisboa, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 1021, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Joana Veríssimo
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 1021, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Beja
- Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia (Museu Bocage), Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência & Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical (IICT), Universidade de Lisboa, Rua da Escola Politécnica, 58, 1269-102 Lisboa, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Sónia Ferreira
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
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Main DC, van Vuuren BJ, Tilbury CR, Tolley KA. Out of southern Africa: Origins and cryptic speciation in Chamaeleo, the most widespread chameleon genus. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2022; 175:107578. [PMID: 35809854 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Molecular phylogenetics and the application of species delimitation methods have proven useful in addressing limitations associated with morphology based taxonomy and have highlighted the inconsistencies in the current taxonomy for many groups. For example, the genus Chamaeleo, which comprises 14 species with large distributions across mainland Africa and parts of Eurasia, exhibits relatively minor phenotypic differentiation between species, leading to speculation regarding the presence of cryptic diversity in the genus. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to construct a robust and comprehensive phylogeny of the genus and highlight potential species-level cryptic diversity. Additionally, we sought to ascertain the most likely biogeographic origin of the genus and understand its spatio-temporal diversification. Accordingly, we made use of species delimitation methods (Bayesian and divergence based) to investigate the extent of cryptic diversity in Chamaeleo, and applied an ancestral area reconstruction to examine the biogeographic origin of the group. Our phylogenetic analyses suggested the presence of at least 18 taxa within Chamaeleo. Notably, three taxa could be recognised within C. dilepis, none of which are equivalent in context with any of the currently described subspecies. There were also three taxa within C. gracilis and two within C. anchietae. The single available tissue specimen identified as C. necasi was embedded within the C. gracilis clade. Our ancestral area reconstruction points to a southern African/Zambezian origin for Chamaeleo, with diversification beginning during the cooling and aridification of Africa that characterised the Oligocene Epoch, ca. 34-23 Mya (Million years ago). Species-level diversification began in the Miocene Epoch (ca. 23-5 Mya), possibly tracking the aridification that triggered the shift from forest to more open, mesic savanna for most clades, but with tectonic events influencing speciation in a Palearctic clade. These findings lay the foundation for a future integrative taxonomic re-evaluation of Chamaeleo, which will be supported with additional lines of evidence before implementing any taxonomic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon C Main
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Bettine Jansen van Vuuren
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Colin R Tilbury
- Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Krystal A Tolley
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006 Johannesburg, South Africa; South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Private Bag X7 Claremont, Cape Town, South Africa.
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4
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Tolley KA, Telford NS, Taft JM, Bates MF, Conradie W, Makhubo BG, Alexander GJ. Taxonomic inflation due to inadequate sampling: are girdled lizards (Cordylus minor species complex) from the Great Karoo one and the same? Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The Great Karoo and Namaqualand of South Africa are home to a species complex of morphologically conserved lizards that occur in allopatry (Karoo: Cordylus aridus, Cordylus cloetei, Cordylus minor; Namaqualand: Cordylus imkeae). However, there are negligible morphological differences and a lack of obvious physical or climatic barriers, particularly among the three Karoo species. We hypothesized that poor geographic coverage in previous studies and lack of an explicit species concept has caused taxonomic inflation. We therefore tested species boundaries by examining multiple criteria: multi-gene phylogenetics, niche distribution modelling and re-examination of diagnostic morphological features with a larger sample size. We found that C. aridus, C. cloetei and C. minor lack diagnosable differences for both genetics and morphology. Distribution modelling, ranging from present day to the last interglacial period, show connectivity has been maintained especially during cooler periods. Conversely, C. imkeae is morphologically diagnosable, genetically distinct and lacks connectivity with the other taxa. By evaluating multiple operational criteria, we conclude that the C. minor species complex comprises only two species, C. minor (with C. aridus and C. cloetei as junior synonyms) and C. imkeae, demonstrating that species defined from inadequate data and lack of an explicit species concept can lead to taxonomic inflation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal A Tolley
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont 7735, South Africa
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nicolas S Telford
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont 7735, South Africa
| | - Jody M Taft
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Claremont 7735, South Africa
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Michael F Bates
- Division of Herpetology, Department of Animal and Plant Systematics, National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Werner Conradie
- Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), Gqeberha, South Africa
- Department of Nature Conservation Management, Natural Resource Science and Management Cluster, Faculty of Science, George Campus, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
| | - Buyisile G Makhubo
- Division of Herpetology, Department of Animal and Plant Systematics, National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Graham J Alexander
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Nielsen TG, Nielsen SH, Gravlund P, Moyer D, Galatius A, Allentoft ME. A can of worms: Identification issues and morphological conservatism in a large sample of African Green and Bush Snakes (Colubridae: Philothamnus) from Minziro Forest, Tanzania. AFR J HERPETOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2021.1976289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tejs Gørgens Nielsen
- Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sofie Holdflod Nielsen
- Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - David Moyer
- Integrated Research Center, The Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois, USA and Iringa, Tanzania
| | - Anders Galatius
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Morten E Allentoft
- Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
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Burbrink FT, Ruane S. Contemporary Philosophy and Methods for Studying Speciation and Delimiting Species. ICHTHYOLOGY & HERPETOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1643/h2020073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frank T. Burbrink
- Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York 10024; . Send reprint requests to this address
| | - Sara Ruane
- Earth and Environmental Sciences: Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University–Newark, 195 University Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07102
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Santos BS, Marques MP, Bauer AM, Ceraco LMP. Herpetological results of Francisco Newtons Zoological Expedition to Angola (19031906): a taxonomic revision and new records of a forgotten collection. Zootaxa 2021; 5028:1-80. [PMID: 34811149 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5028.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Francisco Newtons zoological expedition to Angola undertaken between 1903 and 1906 is one of the least studied of the naturalists life. Only three major papers regarding the herpetofauna collected in this expedition have been published, and a significant part of the specimens remains unstudied since the 1900s. Here we review the extant herpetological specimens of this expedition, present an updated taxonomic revision, and provide new insights on their taxonomic status. The extant collection is constituted by 329 specimens (155 amphibians and 174 reptiles), corresponding to 73 species, 39 genera and 22 families, and it is presently housed in the Museu de Histria Natural e da Cincia da Universidade do Porto (MHNC-UP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna S Santos
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Cincias da Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 1021, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal .
| | - Mariana P Marques
- Centro de Investigao em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genticos (CIBIO - (InBIO), University of Porto, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, Vairo, 4485-661 Porto, Portugal. Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia (Museu Bocage), Museu Nacional de Histria Natural e da Cincia, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua da Escola Politcnica 56-58, 1269-102 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Aaron M Bauer
- Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085-1699, USA.
| | - Luis M P Ceraco
- Museu de Histria Natural e da Cincia da Universidade do Porto, Pra Gomes Teixeira, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal. Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia (Museu Bocage), Museu Nacional de Histria Natural e da Cincia, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua da Escola Politcnica 56-58, 1269-102 Lisboa, Portugal .
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Engelbrecht HM, Branch WR, Tolley KA. Snakes on an African plain: the radiation of Crotaphopeltis and Philothamnus into open habitat (Serpentes: Colubridae). PeerJ 2021; 9:e11728. [PMID: 34434643 PMCID: PMC8351568 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The African continent is comprised of several different biomes, although savanna is the most prevalent. The current heterogeneous landscape was formed through long-term vegetation shifts as a result of the global cooling trend since the Oligocene epoch. The overwhelming trend was a shift from primarily forest, to primarily savanna. As such, faunal groups that emerged during the Paleogene/Neogene period and have species distributed in both forest and savanna habitat should show a genetic signature of the possible evolutionary impact of these biome developments. Crotaphopeltis and Philothamnus (Colubridae) are excellent taxa to investigate the evolutionary impact of these biome developments on widespread African colubrid snakes, and whether timing and patterns of radiation are synchronous with biome reorganisation. Methods A phylogenetic framework was used to investigate timing of lineage diversification. Phylogenetic analysis included both genera as well as other Colubridae to construct a temporal framework in order to estimate radiation times for Crotaphopeltis and Philothamnus. Lineage diversification was estimated in Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis Sampling Trees (BEAST), using two mitochondrial markers (cyt–b, ND4), one nuclear marker (c–mos), and incorporating one fossil and two biogeographical calibration points. Vegetation layers were used to classify and confirm species association with broad biome types (‘closed’ = forest, ‘open’ = savanna/other), and the ancestral habitat state for each genus was estimated. Results Philothamnus showed an ancestral state of closed habitat, but the ancestral habitat type for Crotaphopeltis was equivocal. Both genera showed similar timing of lineage diversification diverging from their sister genera during the Oligocene/Miocene transition (ca. 25 Mya), with subsequent species radiation in the Mid-Miocene. Philothamnus appeared to have undergone allopatric speciation during Mid-Miocene forest fragmentation. Habitat generalist and open habitat specialist species emerged as savanna became more prevalent, while at least two forest associated lineages within Crotaphopeltis moved into Afromontane forest habitat secondarily and independently. Discussion With similar diversification times, but contrasting ancestral habitat reconstructions, we show that these genera have responded very differently to the same broad biome shifts. Differences in biogeographical patterns for the two African colubrid genera is likely an effect of distinct life-history traits, such as the arboreous habits of Philothamnus compared to the terrestrial lifestyle of Crotaphopeltis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanlie M Engelbrecht
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.,Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.,Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - William R Branch
- Herpetology, Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa.,Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | - Krystal A Tolley
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.,Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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Engelbrecht HM, Branch WR, Greenbaum E, Burger M, Conradie W, Tolley KA. African Herald snakes,
Crotaphopeltis
, show population structure for a widespread generalist but deep genetic divergence for forest specialists. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hanlie M. Engelbrecht
- South African National Biodiversity Institute Kirstenbosch Research Centre Claremont South Africa
- Department of Botany & Zoology Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - William R. Branch
- Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld) Port Elizabeth South Africa
- Department of Zoology Nelson Mandela University Port Elizabeth South Africa
| | - Eli Greenbaum
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Texas at El Paso El Paso TX USA
| | - Marius Burger
- African Amphibian Conservation Research Group Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management North‐West University Potchefstroom South Africa
- Flora Fauna & Man Ecological Services Ltd. Tortola British Virgin Islands
| | - Werner Conradie
- Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld) Port Elizabeth South Africa
- School of Natural Resource Management Nelson Mandela University George South Africa
- National Geographic Okovango Wilderness ProjectThe Wild Bird Trust Parktown South Africa
| | - Krystal A. Tolley
- South African National Biodiversity Institute Kirstenbosch Research Centre Claremont South Africa
- Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation University of Johannesburg Auckland Park South Africa
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Nguyen HN, Tran BV, Nguyen LH, Neang T, Yushchenko PV, Poyarkov NA. A new species of Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 from the Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with additional information on Oligodon annamensis Leviton, 1953 (Squamata: Colubridae). PeerJ 2020; 8:e8332. [PMID: 31934510 PMCID: PMC6951295 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a new species of Oligodon from the highlands of the Langbian Plateau, southern Truong Son Mountains, Vietnam, based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The new species, Oligodon rostralissp. nov is distinguished from its congeners by the following morphological characters: medium size in adults (male TL = 582 mm); small and broad head with long protruding snout; dorsal scale row formula 15-15-13; 167 ventrals, 47 subcaudals; single preocular, single postocular; loreal and presubocular absent; six supralabials, third and fourth entering orbit; six infralabials, anterior four contacting first pair of chin shields; internasals separate from prefrontals; nasal divided; single anterior and two posterior temporals; cloacal plate undivided; hemipenes short, bilobed, bifurcating in anterior one third of their length, extending to 8th subcaudal, lacking spines and papillae, with a prominent transverse flounces and distal calyces; six maxillary teeth, the posterior three enlarged; dorsal pattern consisting of 14+4 large dark-brown blotches and a bright-orange vertebral stripe on tail and dorsum; and ventral surfaces in life cream laterally with dark quadrangular spots; dark temporal streak present, edged with white. We also provide additional information on O. annamensis, including a morphological dataset of all specimens known from natural history collections and confirmation of an earlier record of O. annamensis from Cambodia. We also provide the first record of O. annamensis for Dak Lak Province. Phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA genes (3,131 bp of 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and cyt b) suggest sister relationships of Oligodon rostralissp. nov. and O. annamensis and place them in one clade with the O. cyclurus and O. taeniatus species groups, which is concordant with previous studies on the phylogenetic relationships of Oligodon. Our study demonstrates high level of herpetofaunal diversity and endemism of Langbian Plateau and further supports the importance of this area for conservation herpetofaunal diversity in Indochina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Ngoc Nguyen
- Department of Zoology, Southern Institute of Ecology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.,School of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bang Van Tran
- Department of Zoology, Southern Institute of Ecology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Linh Hoang Nguyen
- Department of Zoology, Southern Institute of Ecology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Thy Neang
- Wild Earth Allies, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Platon V Yushchenko
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolay A Poyarkov
- Faculty of Biology, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Laboratory of Tropical Ecology, Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technological Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
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Portillo F, Stanley EL, Branch WR, Conradie W, Rödel MO, Penner J, Barej MF, Kusamba C, Muninga WM, Aristote MM, Bauer AM, Trape JF, Nagy ZT, Carlino P, Pauwels OSG, Menegon M, Ineich I, Burger M, Zassi-Boulou AG, Mazuch T, Jackson K, Hughes DF, Behangana M, Greenbaum E. Evolutionary history of burrowing asps (Lamprophiidae: Atractaspidinae) with emphasis on fang evolution and prey selection. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214889. [PMID: 30995262 PMCID: PMC6469773 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Atractaspidines are poorly studied, fossorial snakes that are found throughout Africa and western Asia, including the Middle East. We employed concatenated gene-tree analyses and divergence dating approaches to investigate evolutionary relationships and biogeographic patterns of atractaspidines with a multi-locus data set consisting of three mitochondrial (16S, cyt b, and ND4) and two nuclear genes (c-mos and RAG1). We sampled 91 individuals from both atractaspidine genera (Atractaspis and Homoroselaps). Additionally, we used ancestral-state reconstructions to investigate fang and diet evolution within Atractaspidinae and its sister lineage (Aparallactinae). Our results indicated that current classification of atractaspidines underestimates diversity within the group. Diversification occurred predominantly between the Miocene and Pliocene. Ancestral-state reconstructions suggest that snake dentition in these taxa might be highly plastic within relatively short periods of time to facilitate adaptations to dynamic foraging and life-history strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Portillo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Edward L. Stanley
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - William R. Branch
- Port Elizabeth Museum, Humewood, South Africa
- Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Werner Conradie
- Port Elizabeth Museum, Humewood, South Africa
- School of Natural Resource Management, George Campus, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
| | - Mark-Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Penner
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Wildlife Management, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael F. Barej
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chifundera Kusamba
- Laboratoire d’Herpétologie, Département de Biologie, Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles, Lwiro, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Wandege M. Muninga
- Laboratoire d’Herpétologie, Département de Biologie, Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles, Lwiro, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Mwenebatu M. Aristote
- Institut Supérieur d'Écologie pour la Conservation de la Nature, Katana Campus, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Aaron M. Bauer
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jean-François Trape
- Laboratoire de Paludologie et Zoologie Médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Piero Carlino
- Museo di Storia naturale del Salento, Calimera, Italy
| | - Olivier S. G. Pauwels
- Département des Vertébrés Récents, Institut Royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Michele Menegon
- Division of Biology and Conservation Ecology, School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ivan Ineich
- Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Département Systématique et Evolution (Reptiles), ISyEB (Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité), Paris, France
| | - Marius Burger
- African Amphibian Conservation Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
- Flora Fauna & Man, Ecological Services Ltd. Tortola, British Virgin Islands
| | | | | | - Kate Jackson
- Department of Biology, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington, United States of America
| | - Daniel F. Hughes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mathias Behangana
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Eli Greenbaum
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
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