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Wilenzik IV, Barger BB, Pyron RA. Fossil-informed biogeographic analysis suggests Eurasian regionalization in crown Squamata during the early Jurassic. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17277. [PMID: 38708352 PMCID: PMC11067913 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Squamata (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians) is a Triassic lineage with an extensive and complex biogeographic history, yet no large-scale study has reconstructed the ancestral range of early squamate lineages. The fossil record indicates a broadly Pangaean distribution by the end- Cretaceous, though many lineages (e.g., Paramacellodidae, Mosasauria, Polyglyphanodontia) subsequently went extinct. Thus, the origin and occupancy of extant radiations is unclear and may have been localized within Pangaea to specific plates, with potential regionalization to distinct Laurasian and Gondwanan landmasses during the Mesozoic in some groups. Methods We used recent tectonic models to code extant and fossil squamate distributions occurring on nine discrete plates for 9,755 species, with Jurassic and Cretaceous fossil constraints from three extinct lineages. We modeled ancestral ranges for crown Squamata from an extant-only molecular phylogeny using a suite of biogeographic models accommodating different evolutionary processes and fossil-based node constraints from known Jurassic and Cretaceous localities. We hypothesized that the best-fit models would not support a full Pangaean distribution (i.e., including all areas) for the origin of crown Squamata, but would instead show regionalization to specific areas within the fragmenting supercontinent, likely in the Northern Hemisphere where most early squamate fossils have been found. Results Incorporating fossil data reconstructs a localized origin within Pangaea, with early regionalization of extant lineages to Eurasia and Laurasia, while Gondwanan regionalization did not occur until the middle Cretaceous for Alethinophidia, Scolecophidia, and some crown Gekkotan lineages. While the Mesozoic history of extant squamate biogeography can be summarized as a Eurasian origin with dispersal out of Laurasia into Gondwana, their Cenozoic history is complex with multiple events (including secondary and tertiary recolonizations) in several directions. As noted by previous authors, squamates have likely utilized over-land range expansion, land-bridge colonization, and trans-oceanic dispersal. Tropical Gondwana and Eurasia hold more ancient lineages than the Holarctic (Rhineuridae being a major exception), and some asymmetries in colonization (e.g., to North America from Eurasia during the Cenozoic through Beringia) deserve additional study. Future studies that incorporate fossil branches, rather than as node constraints, into the reconstruction can be used to explore this history further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian V. Wilenzik
- Department of Biology, George Washington University, Washington D.C., United States of America
| | - Benjamin B. Barger
- Department of Biology, George Washington University, Washington D.C., United States of America
| | - R. Alexander Pyron
- Department of Biology, George Washington University, Washington D.C., United States of America
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2
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Ali JR, Hedges SB. The colonisation of Madagascar by land-bound vertebrates. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1583-1606. [PMID: 37142264 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite discussions extending back almost 160 years, the means by which Madagascar's iconic land vertebrates arrived on the island remains the focus of active debate. Three options have been considered: vicariance, range expansion across land bridges, and dispersal over water. The first assumes that a group (clade/lineage) occupied the island when it was connected with the other Gondwana landmasses in the Mesozoic. Causeways to Africa do not exist today, but have been proposed by some researchers for various times in the Cenozoic. Over-water dispersal could be from rafting on floating vegetation (flotsam) or by swimming/drifting. A recent appraisal of the geological data supported the idea of vicariance, but found nothing to justify the notion of past causeways. Here we review the biological evidence for the mechanisms that explain the origins of 28 of Madagascar's land vertebrate clades [two other lineages (the geckos Geckolepis and Paragehyra) could not be included in the analysis due to phylogenetic uncertainties]. The podocnemid turtles and typhlopoid snakes are conspicuous for they appear to have arisen through a deep-time vicariance event. The two options for the remaining 26 (16 reptile, five land-bound-mammal, and five amphibian), which arrived between the latest Cretaceous and the present, are dispersal across land bridges or over water. As these would produce very different temporal influx patterns, we assembled and analysed published arrival times for each of the groups. For all, a 'colonisation interval' was generated that was bracketed by its 'stem-old' and 'crown-young' tree-node ages; in two instances, the ranges were refined using palaeontological data. The synthesis of these intervals for all clades, which we term a colonisation profile, has a distinctive shape that can be compared, statistically, to various models, including those that assume the arrivals were focused in time. The analysis leads us to reject the various land bridge models (which would show temporal concentrations) and instead supports the idea of dispersal over water (temporally random). Therefore, the biological evidence is now in agreement with the geological evidence, as well as the filtered taxonomic composition of the fauna, in supporting over-water dispersal as the mechanism that explains all but two of Madagascar's land-vertebrate groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Ali
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - S Blair Hedges
- Center for Biodiversity, Temple University, 1925 N 12th Street, Suite 502, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
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3
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Tiatragul S, Brennan IG, Broady ES, Keogh JS. Australia's hidden radiation: Phylogenomics analysis reveals rapid Miocene radiation of blindsnakes. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 185:107812. [PMID: 37207892 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarin Tiatragul
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, ACT, Australia.
| | - Ian G Brennan
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, ACT, Australia.
| | - Elizabeth S Broady
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, ACT, Australia.
| | - J Scott Keogh
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2601, ACT, Australia.
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4
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Esquerré D, Brennan IG, Donnellan S, Keogh JS. Evolutionary models demonstrate rapid and adaptive diversification of Australo-Papuan pythons. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220360. [PMID: 36541096 PMCID: PMC9768648 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lineages may diversify when they encounter available ecological niches. Adaptive divergence by ecological opportunity often appears to follow the invasion of a new environment with open ecological space. This evolutionary process is hypothesized to explain the explosive diversification of numerous Australian vertebrate groups following the collision of the Eurasian and Australian plates 25 Mya. One of these groups is the pythons, which demonstrate their greatest phenotypic and ecological diversity in Australo-Papua (Australia and New Guinea). Here, using an updated and near complete time-calibrated phylogenomic hypothesis of the group, we show that following invasion of this region, pythons experienced a sudden burst of speciation rates coupled with multiple instances of accelerated phenotypic evolution in head and body shape and body size. These results are consistent with adaptive radiation theory with an initial rapid niche-filling phase and later slow-down approaching niche saturation. We discuss these findings in the context of other Australo-Papuan adaptive radiations and the importance of incorporating adaptive diversification systems that are not extraordinarily species-rich but ecomorphologically diverse to understand how biodiversity is generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Esquerré
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University 0200, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Ian G. Brennan
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University 0200, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Stephen Donnellan
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - J. Scott Keogh
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University 0200, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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5
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Graboski R, Arredondo JC, Grazziotin FG, Guerra-Fuentes RA, Da Silva AAA, Prudente ALC, Pinto RR, Rodrigues MT, Bonatto SL, Zaher H. Revealing the cryptic diversity of the widespread and poorly known South American blind snake genus Amerotyphlops (Typhlopidae: Scolecophidia) through integrative taxonomy. Zool J Linn Soc 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Morphological stasis is generally associated with relative constancy in ecological pressures throughout time, producing strong stabilizing selection that retains similar shared morphology. Although climate and vegetation are commonly the main key factors driving diversity and phenotypic diversification in terrestrial vertebrates, fossorial organisms have their morphology mostly defined by their fossorial lifestyle. Among these secretive fossorial organisms, blind snakes of the South American genus Amerotyphlops are considered poorly studied when compared to other taxa. Here, we evaluate the cryptic diversity of Amerotyphlops using phylogenetic and multivariate approaches. We based our phylogenetic analysis on a molecular dataset composed of 12 gene fragments (eight nuclear and four mitochondrial) for 109 species of Typhlopidae. The multivariate analysis was implemented using 36 morphological variables for 377 specimens of Amerotyphlops. Additionally, we contrast our phylogenetic result with the morphological variation found in cranial, external and hemipenial traits. Our phylogenetic results recovered with strong support the following monophyletic groups within Amerotyphlops: (1) a clade formed by A. tasymicris and A. minuisquamus; (2) a clade composed of A. reticulatus; (3) a north-eastern Brazilian clade including A. yonenagae, A. arenensis, A. paucisquamus and A. amoipira; and (4) a clade composed of A. brongersmianus and a complex of cryptic species. Based on these results we describe four new species of Amerotyphlops from north-eastern and south-eastern Brazil, which can be distinguished from the morphologically similar species, A. brongersmianus and A. arenensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Graboski
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo , Avenida Nazaré, Caixa Postal 42494, CEP 04218-070, São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho , Avenida 24 A, Bela Vista, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, São Paulo , Brazil
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Coordenação de Zoologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi , Avenida Perimetral, Terra Firme, Caixa Postal 399, CEP 66077-530, Belém, Pará , Brazil
| | - Juan C Arredondo
- Colecciones Biológicas de la Universidad CES (CBUCES), Facultad de Ciencias y Biotecnología, Universidad CES , Calle 10A, Medellín , Colombia
| | - Felipe G Grazziotin
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan , Avenida Vital Brasil, Butantã, São Paulo - SP, 05503-900 , Brazil
| | - Ricardo Arturo Guerra-Fuentes
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Coordenação de Zoologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi , Avenida Perimetral, Terra Firme, Caixa Postal 399, CEP 66077-530, Belém, Pará , Brazil
- Faculdade de Ciências Naturais, Campus Universitário do Tocantins-Cametá, Universidade Federal do Pará, Travessa Padre Antônio Franco , 2617, Bairro da Matinha, CEP 68400-000 Cametá, Pará , Brazil
| | - Ariane A A Da Silva
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Programa de Coleções e Acervos Científicos , Avenida André de Araújo, CEP 69060-000, Manaus, Amazonas , Brazil
| | - Ana L C Prudente
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Coordenação de Zoologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi , Avenida Perimetral, Terra Firme, Caixa Postal 399, CEP 66077-530, Belém, Pará , Brazil
| | - Roberta R Pinto
- Laboratório de Diversidade de Anfíbios e Répteis, Museu de Arqueologia e Ciências Naturais da Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, Universidade Católica de Pernambuco , Recife , Brazil
| | - Miguel T Rodrigues
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia , Caixa Postal 11.461, CEP 05508-090, São Paulo, SP , Brazil
| | - Sandro L Bonatto
- Laboratório de Biologia Genômica e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul , Avenida Ipiranga, CEP 90619-900, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil
| | - Hussam Zaher
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo , Avenida Nazaré, Caixa Postal 42494, CEP 04218-070, São Paulo, São Paulo , Brazil
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Sidharthan C, Roy P, Narayanan S, Karanth KP. A widespread commensal loses its identity: suggested taxonomic revision for Indotyphlops braminus (Scolecophidia: Typhlopidae) based on molecular data. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-022-00577-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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7
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Chuliver M, Scanferla A, Koch C. Ontogeny of the skull of the blind snake Amerotyphlops brongersmianus (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) brings new insights on snake cranial evolution. Zool J Linn Soc 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Blind snakes represent the most basal group of extant snakes and include fossorial species with unusual skeletal traits. Despite their known phylogenetic position, little is known about their ontogeny and what it might reveal about the origin of their skull anatomy. Here we describe for the first time the ontogenetic transformations of the skull of a blind snake, the typhlopid Amerotyphlops brongersmianus, including embryos and postnatal individuals. Furthermore, we provide data on the size changes relative to skull growth of the main elements of the gnathic complex. We observed that the skull of this blind snake undergoes considerable morphological change during late ontogeny. Additionally, we detected delayed development of some traits (closure of the skull roof, opisthotic-exoccipital suture, ossification of the posterior trabeculae) simultaneously with clearly peramorphic traits (development of the crista circumfenestralis, growth of the pterygoid bar). Our analysis suggests that the unique skull anatomy of blind snakes displays plesiomorphic and highly autapomorphic features, as an outcome of heterochronic processes and miniaturization, and is shaped by functional constraints related to a highly specialized feeding mechanism under the selective pressures of a fossorial lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Chuliver
- CONICET - Fundación de Historia Natural ‘Félix de Azara’ , Hidalgo 775, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1405BCK , Argentina
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change , Adenauerallee 127, Bonn 53113 , Germany
| | - Agustín Scanferla
- CONICET - Fundación de Historia Natural ‘Félix de Azara’ , Hidalgo 775, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1405BCK , Argentina
| | - Claudia Koch
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change , Adenauerallee 127, Bonn 53113 , Germany
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8
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Wickramasinghe N, Wickramasinghe LJM, Vidanapathirana DR, Tennakoon KH, Samarakoon SR, Gower DJ. A molecular-genetics perspective on the systematics of the parthenogenetic flowerpot blindsnake Indotyphlops braminus (Daudin, 1803) (Squamata: Serpentes: Typhlopidae). SYST BIODIVERS 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2022.2062478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nethu Wickramasinghe
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, Thurstan Road, Colombo 3, Colombo, 00300, Sri Lanka
- Department of Herpetology, Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka, 31/5, Alwis Town, Hendala, Wattala, Sri Lanka
| | - L. J. Mendis Wickramasinghe
- Department of Herpetology, Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka, 31/5, Alwis Town, Hendala, Wattala, Sri Lanka
| | - Dulan Ranga Vidanapathirana
- Department of Herpetology, Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka, 31/5, Alwis Town, Hendala, Wattala, Sri Lanka
| | - Kamani H. Tennakoon
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, Thurstan Road, Colombo 3, Colombo, 00300, Sri Lanka
| | - Sameera R. Samarakoon
- Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biotechnology, University of Colombo, 90, Thurstan Road, Colombo 3, Colombo, 00300, Sri Lanka
| | - David J. Gower
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
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9
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Wynn AH. A new species of Gerrhopilus (family: Gerrhopilidae), with comments on the taxonomic status of Gerrhopilus ater suturalis (Brongersma). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 304:2243-2248. [PMID: 34533901 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The genus Gerrhopilus is briefly reviewed with a reevaluation of Gerrhopilus ater suturalis and its elevation to full species. In addition, a new species from Sumatra is described based on a single specimen, one of the three species of Gerrhopilus having both an inferior preocular and inferior ocular, and further distinguishable by the supralabial overlap pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Addison H Wynn
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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10
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Bell CJ, Daza JD, Stanley EL, Laver RJ. Unveiling the elusive: X-rays bring scolecophidian snakes out of the dark. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 304:2110-2117. [PMID: 34473414 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Scolecophidian snakes have long posed challenges for scholars interested in elucidating their anatomy. The importance, and relative paucity, of high-quality anatomical data pertaining to scolecophidians was brought into sharp focus in the late 20th century as part of a controversy over the phylogeny and ecological origin of snakes. The basal position of scolecophidians in the phylogeny of snakes makes their anatomy, behavior, ecology, and evolution especially important for such considerations. The depauperate fossil record for the group meant that advances in understanding their evolutionary history were necessarily tied to biogeographic distributions and anatomical interpretations of extant taxa. Osteological data, especially data pertaining to the skull and mandible, assumed a dominant role in shaping historical and modern perspectives of the evolution of scolecophidians. Traditional approaches to the exploration of the anatomy of these snakes relied heavily upon serial-sectioned specimens and cleared-and-stained specimens. The application of X-ray computed tomography (CT) to the study of scolecophidians revolutionized our understanding of the osteology of the group, and now, via diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT), is yielding data sets on internal soft anatomical features as well. CT data sets replicate many aspects of traditional anatomical preparations, are readily shared with a global community of scholars, and now are available for unique holotype and other rare specimens. The increasing prevalence and relevance of CT data sets is a strong incentive for the establishment and maintenance of permanent repositories for digital data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Bell
- Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Juan D Daza
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, USA
| | - Edward L Stanley
- Department of Herpetology, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Rebecca J Laver
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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11
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Linares-Vargas CA, Bolívar-García W, Herrera-Martínez A, Osorio-Domínguez D, Ospina OE, Thomas R, Daza JD. The status of the anomalepidid snake Liotyphlops albirostris and the revalidation of three taxa based on morphology and ecological niche models. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 304:2264-2278. [PMID: 34436828 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Liotyphlops is a genus of blindsnakes distributed in Central and South America. We reviewed specimens of Liotyphlops albirostris along its current distribution range and, based on morphological data and ecological niche modeling analyses, we restrict the geographical range of L. albirostris and validate three previously described species. In this revision, we describe the morphological variation in the populations from Panamá, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, and propose a new taxonomic arrangement. We revalidate three previous synonyms of L. albirostris to full species status, while dividing the populations from Colombia in two subspecies-one attributed to a previously recognized species from the Caribbean region, and a new one from the Andean region. The new species differs from L. albirostris from Panamá in cephalic scale arrangements that effectively reduces the previously reported variability of these scales in L. albirostris. We also explore some osteological differences that are congruent with the variation observed. We hope that the recognition of these new species better represents the diversity within Liotyphlops, helping to bring these new species out of their cryptic status so that they will be considered in future conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo A Linares-Vargas
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Animal, Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Wilmar Bolívar-García
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Animal, Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | | | - Daniel Osorio-Domínguez
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Cali, Colombia
| | - Oscar E Ospina
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Richard Thomas
- Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
| | - Juan D Daza
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, USA
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12
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Bauer AM, Daza JD, Herrera-Martínez A, Ospina OE. The herpetological contributions of Richard Thomas. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 304:2095-2109. [PMID: 34173714 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
John Paul Richard Thomas is among the living herpetologists to have described the greatest number of new species of amphibians and reptiles, and his contributions to the herpetology of the West Indies, particularly the Greater Antilles, have been exceptional. His academic career followed an unusual path, having established a strong reputation and described 50 new taxa prior to beginning his doctoral studies. His career was strongly influenced by Albert Schwartz and later was characterized by extensive and fruitful collaboration with S. Blair Hedges. Thomas' contributions to the study of blind snakes have been noteworthy. In addition to describing 28 species of scolecophidians he has been a keen observer of blind snake morphology and his 1976 dissertation remains a valuable source of osteological data. We outline some of the highlights of the career of Richard Thomas and provide a bibliography of his scientific works and a listing of the 108 taxa of amphibians and reptiles described by him.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M Bauer
- Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Juan D Daza
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, USA
| | | | - Oscar E Ospina
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
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13
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Herrel A, Lowie A, Miralles A, Gaucher P, Kley NJ, Measey J, Tolley KA. Burrowing in blindsnakes: A preliminary analysis of burrowing forces and consequences for the evolution of morphology. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 304:2292-2302. [PMID: 34089306 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Burrowing is a common behavior in vertebrates. An underground life-style offers many advantages but also poses important challenges including the high energetic cost of burrowing. Scolecophidians are a group of morphologically derived subterranean snakes that show great diversity in form and function. Although it has been suggested that leptotyphlopids and anomalepidids mostly use existing underground passageways, typhlopids are thought to create their own burrows. However, the mechanisms used to create burrows and the associated forces that animals may be able to generate remain unknown. Here, we provide the first data on push forces in scolecophidians and compare them with those in some burrowing alethinophidian snakes. Our results show that typhlopids are capable of generating higher forces for a given size than other snakes. The observed differences are not due to variation in body diameter or length, suggesting fundamental differences in the mechanics of burrowing or the way in which axial muscles are used. Qualitative observations of skull and vertebral shape suggest that the higher forces exerted by typhlopids may have impacted the evolution of their anatomy. Our results provide the basis for future studies exploring the diversity of form and function in this fascinating group of animals. Quantitative comparisons of the cranial and vertebral shape in addition to collecting functional and ecological data on a wider array of species would be particularly important to test the patterns described here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Herrel
- Département Adaptations du Vivant, UMR 7179 C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N, Bâtiment d'Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France.,Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aurélien Lowie
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aurélien Miralles
- Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Gaucher
- Laboratoire Ecologie, Evolution, Interactions des Systèmes amazoniens Centre de Recherche de Montabo, Cayenne cédex, France
| | - Nathan J Kley
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - John Measey
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Center for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Krystal A Tolley
- Kirstenbosch Research Center, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa.,School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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14
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Lira I, Martins A. Digging into blindsnakes' morphology: Description of the skull, lower jaw, and cervical vertebrae of two Amerotyphlops (Hedges et al., 2014) (Serpentes, Typhlopidae) with comments on the typhlopoidean skull morphological diversity. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 304:2198-2214. [PMID: 33634963 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Scolecophidians are small fossorial snakes that exhibit several osteological innovations, most of which driven by their extreme body miniaturization. Considering that data on skull morphology has proven to be relevant in terms of scolecophidian systematics and morphofunctional evolution, herein, we aim to describe in detail the skull, lower jaw, and cervical vertebrae of Amerotyphlops brongersmianus and A. reticulatus. Our results suggest that the investigated osteology of Amerotyphlops resembles several new world typhlopid species, with reduced interspecific variation in the basicranium, lower jaw and cervical vertebrae. Both species exhibit characters states that are typically conserved intragenerically amongst typhlopoids, such as the presence of a single parietal, paired supraoccipitals, and otooccipitals that are in contact medially, and the basioccipital participating in the formation of the foramen magnum. We discuss possible systematically important osteological skull variations among typhlopoids and provide a comprehensive comparison of these taxa based on literature and data gathered herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Lira
- Setor de Herpetologia, Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Angele Martins
- Setor de Herpetologia, Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Laboratório de Anatomia Comparada de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
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15
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Sidharthan C, Karanth KP. India's biogeographic history through the eyes of blindsnakes- filling the gaps in the global typhlopoid phylogeny. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 157:107064. [PMID: 33387646 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.107064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Indian subcontinent's unique geological history is reflected in the diverse assemblage of its biota. The blindsnake superfamily Typhlopoidea, with its unique mix of ancient as well as younger lineages in Asia, provides an opportunity to understand the various biotic exchange scenarios proposed for the Indian landmass. In this study, we aim to understand the biogeographic origins of the four genera of typhlopoids found in India and to decipher their times and modes of arrival in the subcontinent. Five nuclear markers were sequenced for 12 samples collected from across India, encompassing all four genera under study. Published sequences of typhlopoid genera were compiled and combined with Indian sequences to generate a global dataset. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. Divergence times were estimated using BEAST 1.8.2. Ancestral geographical ranges were estimated using DEC + J, implemented in BioGeoBEARS. Divergence time estimates suggest that Gerrhopilus is an ancient lineage, and the lineage leading to it was present on the Indian landmass since the last 100 million years. The other three genera are more recent dispersals into India, possibly trans-oceanic. Biogeographic reconstructions suggest an East Gondwanan origin for Typhlopoidea, an African origin for Grypotyphlops and an Asian origin for Indotyphlops and Argyrophis. It appears that India harbours a combination of ancient and more recently dispersed lineages of typhlopoids. The genus Gerrhopilus is of Gondwanan origin that likely dispersed out of India into Southeast Asia. The other genera are intrusive elements that dispersed into India from Africa (Grypotyphlops) and Asia (Indotyphlops and possibly Argyrophis) post break-up of Gondwana. Thus, our study provides further evidence on the ability of blindsnakes to undergo long distance trans-oceanic dispersal. Results also suggest an Asian origin for typhlopoids from Australasia, Philippines and Wallacea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinta Sidharthan
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
| | - K Praveen Karanth
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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16
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Fachini TS, Onary S, Palci A, Lee MS, Bronzati M, Hsiou AS. Cretaceous Blind Snake from Brazil Fills Major Gap in Snake Evolution. iScience 2020; 23:101834. [PMID: 33305189 PMCID: PMC7718481 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Blind snakes (Scolecophidia) are minute cryptic snakes that diverged at the base of the evolutionary radiation of modern snakes. They have a scant fossil record, which dates back to the Upper Paleocene-Lower Eocene (∼56 Ma); this late appearance conflicts with molecular evidence, which suggests a much older origin for the group (during the Mesozoic: 160–125 Ma). Here we report a typhlopoid blind snake from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil, Boipeba tayasuensis gen. et sp. nov, which extends the scolecophidian fossil record into the Mesozoic and reduces the fossil gap predicted by molecular data. The new species is estimated to have been over 1 m long, much larger than typical modern scolecophidians (<30 cm). This finding sheds light on the early evolution of blind snakes, supports the hypothesis of a Gondwanan origin for the Typhlopoidea, and indicates that early scolecophidians had large body size, and only later underwent miniaturization. Boipeba tayasuensis is the oldest fossil blind snake from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil A new phylogenetic analysis places the taxon within living typhlopoids Boipeba is estimated to be ∼1 m in length, larger than any living blind snake The small body size of extant blind snakes is due to subsequent miniaturization
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Schineider Fachini
- Laboratório de Paleontologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Corresponding author
| | - Silvio Onary
- Laboratório de Paleontologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Corresponding author
| | - Alessandro Palci
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Michael S.Y. Lee
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Mario Bronzati
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biologia Integrativa, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Annie Schmaltz Hsiou
- Laboratório de Paleontologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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17
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The roles of vicariance and isolation by distance in shaping biotic diversification across an ancient archipelago: evidence from a Seychelles caecilian amphibian. BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:110. [PMID: 32847507 PMCID: PMC7448330 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01673-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Island systems offer excellent opportunities for studying the evolutionary histories of species by virtue of their restricted size and easily identifiable barriers to gene flow. However, most studies investigating evolutionary patterns and processes shaping biotic diversification have focused on more recent (emergent) rather than ancient oceanic archipelagos. Here, we focus on the granitic islands of the Seychelles, which are unusual among island systems because they have been isolated for a long time and are home to a monophyletic radiation of caecilian amphibians that has been separated from its extant sister lineage for ca. 65–62 Ma. We selected the most widespread Seychelles caecilian species, Hypogeophis rostratus, to investigate intraspecific morphological and genetic (mitochondrial and nuclear) variation across the archipelago (782 samples from nine islands) to identify patterns and test processes that shaped their evolutionary history within the Seychelles. Results Overall a signal of strong geographic structuring with distinct northern- and southern-island clusters were identified across all datasets. We suggest that these distinct groups have been isolated for ca. 1.26 Ma years without subsequent migration between them. Populations from the somewhat geographically isolated island of Frégate showed contrasting relationships to other islands based on genetic and morphological data, clustering alternatively with northern-island (genetic) and southern-island (morphological) populations. Conclusions Although variation in H. rostratus across the Seychelles is explained more by isolation-by-distance than by adaptation, the genetic-morphological incongruence for affinities of Frégate H. rostratus might be caused by local adaptation over-riding the signal from their vicariant history. Our findings highlight the need of integrative approaches to investigate fine-scale geographic structuring to uncover underlying diversity and to better understand evolutionary processes on ancient, continental islands.
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18
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Sandoval MT, Ruiz García JA, Álvarez BB. Intrauterine and post‐ovipositional embryonic development of
Amerotyphlops brongersmianus
(Vanzolini, 1976) (Serpentes: Typhlopidae) from northeastern Argentina. J Morphol 2020; 281:523-535. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- María Teresa Sandoval
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y AgrimensuraUniversidad Nacional del Nordeste Corrientes Argentina
| | - José Augusto Ruiz García
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y AgrimensuraUniversidad Nacional del Nordeste Corrientes Argentina
| | - Blanca Beatriz Álvarez
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y AgrimensuraUniversidad Nacional del Nordeste Corrientes Argentina
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19
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Abstract
Abstract
The Afrotropics house a diverse freshwater ichthyofauna with > 3000 species, almost all of which are endemic. Recent progress in dated phylogenetics and palaeontology of several groups of Afrotropical freshwater fishes (AFFs) has allowed the testing of palaeoecology- and palaeogeography-based hypotheses explaining their early presence in Africa. Seven hypotheses were tested for 37 most-inclusive monophyletic groups of AFFs. Results indicated that ten lineages originated from direct, but asynchronous, marine-to-freshwater shifts. These lineages contribute < 2% to the current AFF species richness. Eleven lineages colonized the Afrotropics from the Orient after the Afro-Arabian plate collided with Eurasia in the early Oligocene. These lineages contribute ~20% to the total diversity. There are seven sister relationships between Afrotropical and Neotropical taxa. For only three of them (4% of the species diversity), the continental drift vicariance hypothesis was not rejected. Distributions of the other four younger trans-Atlantic lineages are better explained by post-drifting long-distance dispersal. In those cases, I discuss the possibility of dispersal through the Northern Hemisphere as an alternative to direct trans-Atlantic dispersal. The origins of ten AFF lineages, including the most species-rich Pseudocrenilabrinae (> 1100 species), are not yet established with confidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Lavoué
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
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20
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Burbrink FT, Grazziotin FG, Pyron RA, Cundall D, Donnellan S, Irish F, Keogh JS, Kraus F, Murphy RW, Noonan B, Raxworthy CJ, Ruane S, Lemmon AR, Lemmon EM, Zaher H. Interrogating Genomic-Scale Data for Squamata (Lizards, Snakes, and Amphisbaenians) Shows no Support for Key Traditional Morphological Relationships. Syst Biol 2019; 69:502-520. [DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syz062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Genomics is narrowing uncertainty in the phylogenetic structure for many amniote groups. For one of the most diverse and species-rich groups, the squamate reptiles (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians), an inverse correlation between the number of taxa and loci sampled still persists across all publications using DNA sequence data and reaching a consensus on the relationships among them has been highly problematic. In this study, we use high-throughput sequence data from 289 samples covering 75 families of squamates to address phylogenetic affinities, estimate divergence times, and characterize residual topological uncertainty in the presence of genome-scale data. Importantly, we address genomic support for the traditional taxonomic groupings Scleroglossa and Macrostomata using novel machine-learning techniques. We interrogate genes using various metrics inherent to these loci, including parsimony-informative sites (PIS), phylogenetic informativeness, length, gaps, number of substitutions, and site concordance to understand why certain loci fail to find previously well-supported molecular clades and how they fail to support species-tree estimates. We show that both incomplete lineage sorting and poor gene-tree estimation (due to a few undesirable gene properties, such as an insufficient number of PIS), may account for most gene and species-tree discordance. We find overwhelming signal for Toxicofera, and also show that none of the loci included in this study supports Scleroglossa or Macrostomata. We comment on the origins and diversification of Squamata throughout the Mesozoic and underscore remaining uncertainties that persist in both deeper parts of the tree (e.g., relationships between Dibamia, Gekkota, and remaining squamates; among the three toxicoferan clades Iguania, Serpentes, and Anguiformes) and within specific clades (e.g., affinities among gekkotan, pleurodont iguanians, and colubroid families).
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank T Burbrink
- Department of Herpetology, The American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street at Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, USA
| | - Felipe G Grazziotin
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500—Butantã, São Paulo—SP 05503-900, Brazil
| | - R Alexander Pyron
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - David Cundall
- Department of Biological Sciences, 1 W. Packer Avenue, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Steve Donnellan
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5005 Australia
| | - Frances Irish
- Department of Biological Sciences, Moravian College, 1200 Main St, Bethlehem, PA 18018, US
| | - J Scott Keogh
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Fred Kraus
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Robert W Murphy
- Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, Canada
| | - Brice Noonan
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
| | - Christopher J Raxworthy
- Department of Herpetology, The American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street at Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, USA
| | - Sara Ruane
- Department of Biological Sciences, 206 Boyden Hall, Rutgers University, 195 University Avenue, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
| | - Alan R Lemmon
- Department of Scientific Computing, Florida State University, Dirac Science Library, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4102, USA
| | - Emily Moriarty Lemmon
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4295, USA
| | - Hussam Zaher
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil CEP 04263-000, Brazil
- Centre de Recherche sur la Paléobiodiversité et les Paléoenvironnements (CR2P), UMR 7207 CNRS/MNHN/Sorbonne Université, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, 8 rue Buffon, CP 38, 75005 Paris, France
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21
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Moving beyond the surface: Comparative head and neck myology of threadsnakes (Epictinae, Leptotyphlopidae, Serpentes), with comments on the 'scolecophidian' muscular system. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219661. [PMID: 31318886 PMCID: PMC6638936 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on the cephalic myology of snakes provide a series of relevant data on their biology and systematics. Despite the great amount of descriptive studies currently available for the group, much of the knowledge remains obscure for most scolecophidian taxa. This study aimed to describe in detail the cephalic (head and neck) myology of members of the tribe Epictinae, Leptotyphlopidae. We provide the first report of the presence of extrinsic ocular muscles, and a double Musculus pterygoideus acessorius in Leptotyphlopidae. A well-developed M. levator anguli oris is exclusive to the subtribes Renina and Epictina, being reduced in Tetracheilostomina species. Both inter- and intraspecific variations are reported for the head and neck muscles, and such results provide additional data and raise an interesting discussion on the neck-trunk boundaries in snakes. We also provide a discussion on the terminology of a few head muscles in Leptoyphlopidae in comparison to the other lineages of ´Scolecophidia´ (Anomalepididae and Typhlopoidea).
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22
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AKMAN B, GÖÇMEN B. Comparison of the Blind Snake Populations, Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Merrem, 1820) (Squamata: Typhlopidae) in Turkey and Cyprus: Morphology, Serology, Ecology, and Geometric Morphometrics. COMMAGENE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.31594/commagene.522170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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23
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Gray JA, Hutchinson MN, Jones ME. Exceptional Disparity in Australian Agamid Lizards is a Possible Result of Arrival into Vacant Niche. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2019; 302:1536-1543. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.24096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jaimi A. Gray
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Mark N. Hutchinson
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
- South Australian Museum Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Marc E.H. Jones
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
- South Australian Museum Adelaide South Australia Australia
- Department of Earth Sciences The Natural History Museum London UK
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24
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Chretien J, Wang-Claypool CY, Glaw F, Scherz MD. The bizarre skull of Xenotyphlops sheds light on synapomorphies of Typhlopoidea. J Anat 2019; 234:637-655. [PMID: 30740684 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging picture of non-monophyly of scolecophidian snakes is increasingly indicative that fossorial lifestyle, myrmecophagous diet, and miniaturisation are powerful drivers of morphological evolution in squamate skulls. We provide a detailed description of the skull of Xenotyphlops grandidieri, with reference to the skulls of other scolecophidian snakes. The skull, which shows dramatic ventral inflection of the snout complex, is remarkably bizarre, and the mouth opening is more ventrally oriented than in other typhlopoids. The eyes are strongly reduced, and the enlarged and rather flat anterior head shield is covered in numerous sensillae. We put forward several potential explanations for the evolution of these unusual modifications. On the other hand, Xenotyphlops shares numerous synapomorphies with other typhlopoid snakes, including the highly specialized jaw mechanism. We argue that the key differences between the jaw mechanisms of Leptotyphlopidae, Anomalepididae, and Typhlopoidea provide compelling evidence for a strong role of convergence in the evolution of the scolecophidian bauplan, and these clades therefore cannot be interpreted as representative of ancestral anatomy or ecology among snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann Chretien
- Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM-SNSB), Munich, Germany
| | | | - Frank Glaw
- Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM-SNSB), Munich, Germany
| | - Mark D Scherz
- Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM-SNSB), Munich, Germany.,Zoologisches Institut, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
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25
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Kornilios P. The complete mitogenome of the Eurasian blindsnake Xerotyphlops vermicularis (Reptilia, Typhlopidae). Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2019.1617080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Kornilios
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- The Molecular Ecology Backshop, Loutraki, Greece
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, CSIC - Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37–49, Barcelona E-08003, Spain
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26
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ABEGG ARTHURD, AZEVEDO WEVERTONS, FRANCO FRANCISCOL, DUARTE MARCELOR. Description of a second known Liotyphlops caissara specimen (Serpentes: Anomalepididae). AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2019; 91:e20181104. [DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201920181104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- ARTHUR D. ABEGG
- Instituto Butantan, Brazil; Universidade de São Paulo/USP, Brazil
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27
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Graboski R, Arredondo JC, Grazziotin FG, da Silva AAA, Prudente ALC, Rodrigues MT, Bonatto SL, Zaher H. Molecular phylogeny and hemipenial diversity of South American species ofAmerotyphlops(Typhlopidae, Scolecophidia). ZOOL SCR 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Graboski
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo; São Paulo Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Zoologia; Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho; Rio Claro Brazil
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Coordenação de Zoologia; Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi; Belém Brazil
| | | | | | - Ariane A. A. da Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia; Universidade Federal do Pará; Belém Brazil
- Programa de Coleções e Acervos Científicos; Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia; Manaus Brazil
| | - Ana L. C. Prudente
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Coordenação de Zoologia; Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi; Belém Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia; Universidade Federal do Pará; Belém Brazil
| | - Miguel T. Rodrigues
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências; Universidade de São; São Paulo Brazil
| | - Sandro L. Bonatto
- Laboratório de Biologia Genômica e Molecular, Escola de Ciências; Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - Hussam Zaher
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo; São Paulo Brazil
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28
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Miralles A, Marin J, Markus D, Herrel A, Hedges SB, Vidal N. Molecular evidence for the paraphyly of Scolecophidia and its evolutionary implications. J Evol Biol 2018; 31:1782-1793. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Miralles
- Institut de Systématique; Evolution, Biodiversité, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; CNRS UPMC EPHE; Sorbonne Universités; Paris France
| | - Julie Marin
- Institut de Systématique; Evolution, Biodiversité, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; CNRS UPMC EPHE; Sorbonne Universités; Paris France
| | - Damien Markus
- Institut de Systématique; Evolution, Biodiversité, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; CNRS UPMC EPHE; Sorbonne Universités; Paris France
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département Adaptations du vivant; UMR 7179 C.N.R.S/M.N.H.N.; Paris France
| | - S. Blair Hedges
- Center for Biodiversity; Temple University; Philadelphia Pennsylvania
| | - Nicolas Vidal
- Institut de Systématique; Evolution, Biodiversité, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle; CNRS UPMC EPHE; Sorbonne Universités; Paris France
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29
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Phylogenetic evidence for mid-Cenozoic turnover of a diverse continental biota. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:1896-1902. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0355-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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30
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Kornilios P. Polytomies, signal and noise: revisiting the mitochondrial phylogeny and phylogeography of the Eurasian blindsnake species complex (Typhlopidae, Squamata). ZOOL SCR 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Kornilios
- Section of Animal Biology; Department of Biology; School of Natural Sciences; University of Patras; GR-26500 Patras Greece
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Figueroa A, McKelvy AD, Grismer LL, Bell CD, Lailvaux SP. A Species-Level Phylogeny of Extant Snakes with Description of a New Colubrid Subfamily and Genus. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161070. [PMID: 27603205 PMCID: PMC5014348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With over 3,500 species encompassing a diverse range of morphologies and ecologies, snakes make up 36% of squamate diversity. Despite several attempts at estimating higher-level snake relationships and numerous assessments of generic- or species-level phylogenies, a large-scale species-level phylogeny solely focusing on snakes has not been completed. Here, we provide the largest-yet estimate of the snake tree of life using maximum likelihood on a supermatrix of 1745 taxa (1652 snake species + 7 outgroup taxa) and 9,523 base pairs from 10 loci (5 nuclear, 5 mitochondrial), including previously unsequenced genera (2) and species (61). RESULTS Increased taxon sampling resulted in a phylogeny with a new higher-level topology and corroborate many lower-level relationships, strengthened by high nodal support values (> 85%) down to the species level (73.69% of nodes). Although the majority of families and subfamilies were strongly supported as monophyletic with > 88% support values, some families and numerous genera were paraphyletic, primarily due to limited taxon and loci sampling leading to a sparse supermatrix and minimal sequence overlap between some closely-related taxa. With all rogue taxa and incertae sedis species eliminated, higher-level relationships and support values remained relatively unchanged, except in five problematic clades. CONCLUSION Our analyses resulted in new topologies at higher- and lower-levels; resolved several previous topological issues; established novel paraphyletic affiliations; designated a new subfamily, Ahaetuliinae, for the genera Ahaetulla, Chrysopelea, Dendrelaphis, and Dryophiops; and appointed Hemerophis (Coluber) zebrinus to a new genus, Mopanveldophis. Although we provide insight into some distinguished problematic nodes, at the deeper phylogenetic scale, resolution of these nodes may require sampling of more slowly-evolving nuclear genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Figueroa
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Alexander D. McKelvy
- Department of Biology, The Graduate School and Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States of America
- Department of Biology, 6S-143, College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY, United States of America
| | - L. Lee Grismer
- Department of Biology, La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, CA, United States of America
| | - Charles D. Bell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Simon P. Lailvaux
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
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Mezzasalma M, Andreone F, Glaw F, Petraccioli A, Odierna G, Guarino FM. A karyological study of three typhlopid species with some inferences on chromosome evolution in blindsnakes (Scolecophidia). ZOOL ANZ 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Longrich NR, Vinther J, Pyron RA, Pisani D, Gauthier JA. Biogeography of worm lizards (Amphisbaenia) driven by end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20143034. [PMID: 25833855 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.3034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Worm lizards (Amphisbaenia) are burrowing squamates that live as subterranean predators. Their underground existence should limit dispersal, yet they are widespread throughout the Americas, Europe and Africa. This pattern was traditionally explained by continental drift, but molecular clocks suggest a Cenozoic diversification, long after the break-up of Pangaea, implying dispersal. Here, we describe primitive amphisbaenians from the North American Palaeocene, including the oldest known amphisbaenian, and provide new and older molecular divergence estimates for the clade, showing that worm lizards originated in North America, then radiated and dispersed in the Palaeogene following the Cretaceous-Palaeogene (K-Pg) extinction. This scenario implies at least three trans-oceanic dispersals: from North America to Europe, from North America to Africa and from Africa to South America. Amphisbaenians provide a striking case study in biogeography, suggesting that the role of continental drift in biogeography may be overstated. Instead, these patterns support Darwin and Wallace's hypothesis that the geographical ranges of modern clades result from dispersal, including oceanic rafting. Mass extinctions may facilitate dispersal events by eliminating competitors and predators that would otherwise hinder establishment of dispersing populations, removing biotic barriers to dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R Longrich
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Jakob Vinther
- School of Biological Sciences and School of Earth Sciences, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - R Alexander Pyron
- Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Davide Pisani
- School of Biological Sciences and School of Earth Sciences, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
| | - Jacques A Gauthier
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8109, USA
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A New Miocene-Divergent Lineage of Old World Racer Snake from India. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148380. [PMID: 26934509 PMCID: PMC4774991 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A distinctive early Miocene-divergent lineage of Old world racer snakes is described as a new genus and species based on three specimens collected from the western Indian state of Gujarat. Wallaceophis gen. et. gujaratenesis sp. nov. is a members of a clade of old world racers. The monotypic genus represents a distinct lineage among old world racers is recovered as a sister taxa to Lytorhynchus based on ~3047bp of combined nuclear (cmos) and mitochondrial molecular data (cytb, ND4, 12s, 16s). The snake is distinct morphologically in having a unique dorsal scale reduction formula not reported from any known colubrid snake genus. Uncorrected pairwise sequence divergence for nuclear gene cmos between Wallaceophis gen. et. gujaratenesis sp. nov. other members of the clade containing old world racers and whip snake is 21–36%.
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35
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Agnarsson I, Jencik BB, Veve GM, Hanitriniaina S, Agostini D, Goh SP, Pruitt J, Kuntner M. Systematics of the Madagascar Anelosimus spiders: remarkable local richness and endemism, and dual colonization from the Americas. Zookeys 2015; 509:13-52. [PMID: 26175602 PMCID: PMC4493342 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.509.8897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the alarming rates of deforestation and forest fragmentation, Madagascar still harbors extraordinary biodiversity. However, in many arthropod groups, such as spiders, this biodiversity remains mostly unexplored and undescribed. The first subsocial Madagascan species of the theridiid spider genus Anelosimus were described in 2005 when six new species were found to coexist in the Périnet forest fragment within Andasibe-Mantadia NP. However, this discovery was based only on a few specimens and the extent of this Madagascan radiation has remained unknown. We here report on a thorough survey of >350 colonies from Périnet, and three pilot surveys into additional Madagascar forests (Ambohitantely, Ranamofana, and Montagne d'Ambre). The morphological, molecular and natural history data from these surveys facilitated a revised taxonomy and phylogenetic hypothesis of Madagascan Anelosimus. This subsocial clade currently comprises six previously known (Anelosimusandasibe Agnarsson & Kuntner, 2005, Anelosimusmay Agnarsson, 2005, Anelosimusnazariani Agnarsson & Kuntner, 2005, Anelosimussallee Agnarsson & Kuntner, 2005, Anelosimussalut Agnarsson & Kuntner, 2005, Anelosimusvondrona Agnarsson & Kuntner, 2005) and 10 new species: Anelosimusata sp. n., Anelosimusbuffoni sp. n., Anelosimusdarwini sp. n., Anelosimushookeri sp. n., Anelosimushuxleyi sp. n., Anelosimuslamarcki sp. n., Anelosimusmoramora sp. n., Anelosimustita sp. n., Anelosimustorfi sp. n., Anelosimuswallacei sp. n.. With the exception of Anelosimusmay and Anelosimusvondrona, all other species appear to be single forest endemics. While additional sampling is necessary, these data imply a much higher local richness and endemism in Madagascan forests than in any other comparable area globally. The phylogenetic results establish a sister clade relationship between the subsocial Anelosimus in Madagascar and the American 'eximius group', and between the solitary Anelosimusdecaryi on Madagascar and a solitary American clade. These findings imply duplicate colonizations from America, an otherwise rare biogeographical pattern, calling for more detailed investigation of Anelosimus biogeography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingi Agnarsson
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Brian B. Jencik
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Giselle M. Veve
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | | | - Diego Agostini
- Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Seok Ping Goh
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jonathan Pruitt
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Matjaž Kuntner
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
- Institute of Biology, Scientific Research Centre, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Centre for Behavioural Ecology and Evolution (CBEE), College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Simões BF, Sampaio FL, Jared C, Antoniazzi MM, Loew ER, Bowmaker JK, Rodriguez A, Hart NS, Hunt DM, Partridge JC, Gower DJ. Visual system evolution and the nature of the ancestral snake. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:1309-20. [PMID: 26012745 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The dominant hypothesis for the evolutionary origin of snakes from 'lizards' (non-snake squamates) is that stem snakes acquired many snake features while passing through a profound burrowing (fossorial) phase. To investigate this, we examined the visual pigments and their encoding opsin genes in a range of squamate reptiles, focusing on fossorial lizards and snakes. We sequenced opsin transcripts isolated from retinal cDNA and used microspectrophotometry to measure directly the spectral absorbance of the photoreceptor visual pigments in a subset of samples. In snakes, but not lizards, dedicated fossoriality (as in Scolecophidia and the alethinophidian Anilius scytale) corresponds with loss of all visual opsins other than RH1 (λmax 490-497 nm); all other snakes (including less dedicated burrowers) also have functional sws1 and lws opsin genes. In contrast, the retinas of all lizards sampled, even highly fossorial amphisbaenians with reduced eyes, express functional lws, sws1, sws2 and rh1 genes, and most also express rh2 (i.e. they express all five of the visual opsin genes present in the ancestral vertebrate). Our evidence of visual pigment complements suggests that the visual system of stem snakes was partly reduced, with two (RH2 and SWS2) of the ancestral vertebrate visual pigments being eliminated, but that this did not extend to the extreme additional loss of SWS1 and LWS that subsequently occurred (probably independently) in highly fossorial extant scolecophidians and A. scytale. We therefore consider it unlikely that the ancestral snake was as fossorial as extant scolecophidians, whether or not the latter are para- or monophyletic.
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Affiliation(s)
- B F Simões
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - F L Sampaio
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - C Jared
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M M Antoniazzi
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - E R Loew
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - J K Bowmaker
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - A Rodriguez
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - N S Hart
- School of Animal Biology and The Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - D M Hunt
- School of Animal Biology and The Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - J C Partridge
- School of Animal Biology and The Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - D J Gower
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
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37
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Sheehy CM, Albert JS, Lillywhite HB. The evolution of tail length in snakes associated with different gravitational environments. Funct Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Coleman M. Sheehy
- Department of Biology University of Florida Gainesville Florida32611 USA
| | - James S. Albert
- Department of Biology University of Louisiana Lafayette Louisiana70504 USA
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38
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Hsiang AY, Field DJ, Webster TH, Behlke ADB, Davis MB, Racicot RA, Gauthier JA. The origin of snakes: revealing the ecology, behavior, and evolutionary history of early snakes using genomics, phenomics, and the fossil record. BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:87. [PMID: 25989795 PMCID: PMC4438441 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0358-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The highly derived morphology and astounding diversity of snakes has long inspired debate regarding the ecological and evolutionary origin of both the snake total-group (Pan-Serpentes) and crown snakes (Serpentes). Although speculation abounds on the ecology, behavior, and provenance of the earliest snakes, a rigorous, clade-wide analysis of snake origins has yet to be attempted, in part due to a dearth of adequate paleontological data on early stem snakes. Here, we present the first comprehensive analytical reconstruction of the ancestor of crown snakes and the ancestor of the snake total-group, as inferred using multiple methods of ancestral state reconstruction. We use a combined-data approach that includes new information from the fossil record on extinct crown snakes, new data on the anatomy of the stem snakes Najash rionegrina, Dinilysia patagonica, and Coniophis precedens, and a deeper understanding of the distribution of phenotypic apomorphies among the major clades of fossil and Recent snakes. Additionally, we infer time-calibrated phylogenies using both new ‘tip-dating’ and traditional node-based approaches, providing new insights on temporal patterns in the early evolutionary history of snakes. Results Comprehensive ancestral state reconstructions reveal that both the ancestor of crown snakes and the ancestor of total-group snakes were nocturnal, widely foraging, non-constricting stealth hunters. They likely consumed soft-bodied vertebrate and invertebrate prey that was subequal to head size, and occupied terrestrial settings in warm, well-watered, and well-vegetated environments. The snake total-group – approximated by the Coniophis node – is inferred to have originated on land during the middle Early Cretaceous (~128.5 Ma), with the crown-group following about 20 million years later, during the Albian stage. Our inferred divergence dates provide strong evidence for a major radiation of henophidian snake diversity in the wake of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction, clarifying the pattern and timing of the extant snake radiation. Although the snake crown-group most likely arose on the supercontinent of Gondwana, our results suggest the possibility that the snake total-group originated on Laurasia. Conclusions Our study provides new insights into when, where, and how snakes originated, and presents the most complete picture of the early evolution of snakes to date. More broadly, we demonstrate the striking influence of including fossils and phenotypic data in combined analyses aimed at both phylogenetic topology inference and ancestral state reconstruction. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0358-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Y Hsiang
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA.
| | - Daniel J Field
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA. .,Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20560, USA.
| | - Timothy H Webster
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA.
| | - Adam D B Behlke
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA.
| | - Matthew B Davis
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA.
| | - Rachel A Racicot
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA.
| | - Jacques A Gauthier
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA. .,Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, USA.
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Oliver PM, Skipwith P, Lee MSY. Crossing the line: increasing body size in a trans-Wallacean lizard radiation (Cyrtodactylus, Gekkota). Biol Lett 2015; 10:20140479. [PMID: 25296929 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The region between the Asian and Australian continental plates (Wallacea) demarcates the transition between two differentiated regional biotas. Despite this striking pattern, some terrestrial lineages have successfully traversed the marine barriers of Wallacea and subsequently diversified in newly colonized regions. The hypothesis that these dispersals between biogeographic realms are correlated with detectable shifts in evolutionary trajectory has however rarely been tested. Here, we analyse the evolution of body size in a widespread and exceptionally diverse group of gekkotan lizards (Cyrtodactylus), and show that a clade that has dispersed eastwards and radiated in the Australopapuan region appears to have significantly expanded its body size 'envelope' and repeatedly evolved gigantism. This pattern suggests that the biotic composition of the proto-Papuan Archipelago provided a permissive environment in which new colonists were released from evolutionary constraints operating to the west of Wallacea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Oliver
- Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia Department of Sciences, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia
| | - Phillip Skipwith
- Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael S Y Lee
- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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40
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Krause DW, Hoffmann S, Wible JR, Kirk EC, Schultz JA, von Koenigswald W, Groenke JR, Rossie JB, O’Connor PM, Seiffert ER, Dumont ER, Holloway WL, Rogers RR, Rahantarisoa LJ, Kemp AD, Andriamialison H. First cranial remains of a gondwanatherian mammal reveal remarkable mosaicism. Nature 2014; 515:512-7. [DOI: 10.1038/nature13922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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41
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Case solved: presence of toxin-secreting oral glands in the lamprophiid snake Mimophis mahfalensis (Grandidier, 1867) from Madagascar. ZOOMORPHOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00435-014-0234-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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42
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Monod L, Prendini L. Evidence for Eurogondwana: the roles of dispersal, extinction and vicariance in the evolution and biogeography of Indo-Pacific Hormuridae (Scorpiones: Scorpionoidea). Cladistics 2014; 31:71-111. [DOI: 10.1111/cla.12067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Monod
- Département des arthropodes et d'entomologie I; Muséum d'histoire naturelle; Route de Malagnou 1 1208 Genève Switzerland
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology; American Museum of Natural History; Central Park West at 79th Street New York NY 10024-5192 USA
| | - Lorenzo Prendini
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology; American Museum of Natural History; Central Park West at 79th Street New York NY 10024-5192 USA
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44
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Reynolds RG, Niemiller ML, Hedges SB, Dornburg A, Puente-Rolón AR, Revell LJ. Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of West Indian boid snakes (Chilabothrus). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2013; 68:461-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2013.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2012] [Revised: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Marin J, Donnellan SC, Hedges SB, Puillandre N, Aplin KP, Doughty P, Hutchinson MN, Couloux A, Vidal N. Hidden species diversity of Australian burrowing snakes (Ramphotyphlops). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Marin
- Departement Systematique et Evolution; UMR 7138; CP 26; Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle; 57 rue Cuvier; F-75231; Paris, Cedex 05; France
| | | | - S. Blair Hedges
- Department of Biology; 208 Mueller Lab; Pennsylvania State University; University Park; PA; 16802-5301; USA
| | - Nicolas Puillandre
- Departement Systematique et Evolution; UMR 7138; CP 26; Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle; 57 rue Cuvier; F-75231; Paris, Cedex 05; France
| | - Ken P. Aplin
- Australian National Wildlife Collection CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences; GPO Box 1700; Canberra; 2601; Australia
| | - Paul Doughty
- Western Australian Museum; 49 Kew Street; Welshpool; WA; 6106; Australia
| | | | - Arnaud Couloux
- Centre National de Séquençage; Genoscope; 2 rue Gaston-Crémieux; CP5706; 91057; Evry, Cedex; France
| | - Nicolas Vidal
- Departement Systematique et Evolution; UMR 7138; CP 26; Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle; 57 rue Cuvier; F-75231; Paris, Cedex 05; France
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Pyron RA, Burbrink FT, Wiens JJ. A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes. BMC Evol Biol 2013; 13:93. [PMID: 23627680 PMCID: PMC3682911 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-13-93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 978] [Impact Index Per Article: 88.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The extant squamates (>9400 known species of lizards and snakes) are one of the most diverse and conspicuous radiations of terrestrial vertebrates, but no studies have attempted to reconstruct a phylogeny for the group with large-scale taxon sampling. Such an estimate is invaluable for comparative evolutionary studies, and to address their classification. Here, we present the first large-scale phylogenetic estimate for Squamata. RESULTS The estimated phylogeny contains 4161 species, representing all currently recognized families and subfamilies. The analysis is based on up to 12896 base pairs of sequence data per species (average = 2497 bp) from 12 genes, including seven nuclear loci (BDNF, c-mos, NT3, PDC, R35, RAG-1, and RAG-2), and five mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, cytochrome b, ND2, and ND4). The tree provides important confirmation for recent estimates of higher-level squamate phylogeny based on molecular data (but with more limited taxon sampling), estimates that are very different from previous morphology-based hypotheses. The tree also includes many relationships that differ from previous molecular estimates and many that differ from traditional taxonomy. CONCLUSIONS We present a new large-scale phylogeny of squamate reptiles that should be a valuable resource for future comparative studies. We also present a revised classification of squamates at the family and subfamily level to bring the taxonomy more in line with the new phylogenetic hypothesis. This classification includes new, resurrected, and modified subfamilies within gymnophthalmid and scincid lizards, and boid, colubrid, and lamprophiid snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Alexander Pyron
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2023 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Frank T Burbrink
- Department of Biology, The Graduate School and University Center, The City University of New York, 365 5th Ave., New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Biology, The College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, 2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314, USA
| | - John J Wiens
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0088, USA
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Samonds KE, Godfrey LR, Ali JR, Goodman SM, Vences M, Sutherland MR, Irwin MT, Krause DW. Imperfect isolation: factors and filters shaping Madagascar's extant vertebrate fauna. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62086. [PMID: 23626770 PMCID: PMC3633922 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 03/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Analyses of phylogenetic topology and estimates of divergence timing have facilitated a reconstruction of Madagascar's colonization events by vertebrate animals, but that information alone does not reveal the major factors shaping the island's biogeographic history. Here, we examine profiles of Malagasy vertebrate clades through time within the context of the island's paleogeographical evolution to determine how particular events influenced the arrival of the island's extant groups. First we compare vertebrate profiles on Madagascar before and after selected events; then we compare tetrapod profiles on Madagascar to contemporary tetrapod compositions globally. We show that changes from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic in the proportions of Madagascar's tetrapod clades (particularly its increase in the representation of birds and mammals) are tied to changes in their relative proportions elsewhere on the globe. Differences in the representation of vertebrate classes from the Mesozoic to the Cenozoic reflect the effects of extinction (i.e., the non-random susceptibility of the different vertebrate clades to purported catastrophic global events 65 million years ago), and new evolutionary opportunities for a subset of vertebrates with the relatively high potential for transoceanic dispersal potential. In comparison, changes in vertebrate class representation during the Cenozoic are minor. Despite the fact that the island's isolation has resulted in high vertebrate endemism and a unique and taxonomically imbalanced extant vertebrate assemblage (both hailed as testimony to its long isolation), that isolation was never complete. Indeed, Madagascar's extant tetrapod fauna owes more to colonization during the Cenozoic than to earlier arrivals. Madagascar's unusual vertebrate assemblage needs to be understood with reference to the basal character of clades originating prior to the K-T extinction, as well as to the differential transoceanic dispersal advantage of other, more recently arriving clades. Thus, the composition of Madagascar's endemic vertebrate assemblage itself provides evidence of the island's paleogeographic history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E Samonds
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, United States of America.
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48
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Phylogenetic position, origin and biogeography of Palearctic and Socotran blind-snakes (Serpentes: Typhlopidae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2013; 68:35-41. [PMID: 23523862 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2013.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2012] [Revised: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The majority of the family Typhlopidae occurs in the Neotropic, Australasian, Indo-Malayan and Afrotropic ecoregions. They show a restricted distribution in the western Palearctic, where they include few native species, i.e. Rhinotyphlops simoni, R. episcopus and Typhlops vermicularis. A unique species among typhlopids is T. socotranus, found in Socotra, one of the most endemic-rich archipelagoes. In this study we determine the phylogenetic position of the above mentioned species and discuss their systematics, origin and biogeography. For this purpose we use three protein-coding nuclear markers (AMEL-amelogenin, BDNF-brain-derived neurotrophic factor and NT3-neurotrophin 3) to construct a time-calibrated phylogeny of the family Typhlopidae. Our results show that T. socotranus is a sister-species to T. vermicularis, while R. simoni and R. episcopus are sister-species to each other and are found within the African clade of the family, although they are geographically distributed in west Asia. Additionally we discuss several hypotheses on their origin, as well as the occurence of typhlopids in Eurasia.
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49
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Cole CJ, Townsend CR, Reynolds RP, MacCulloch RD, Lathrop A. Amphibians and reptiles of Guyana, South America: illustrated keys, annotated species accounts, and a biogeographic synopsis. P BIOL SOC WASH 2013. [DOI: 10.2988/0006-324x-125.4.317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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50
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Genus-level phylogeny of snakes reveals the origins of species richness in Sri Lanka. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2012; 66:969-78. [PMID: 23261713 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2012] [Revised: 11/27/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Snake diversity in the island of Sri Lanka is extremely high, hosting at least 89 inland (i.e., non-marine) snake species, of which at least 49 are endemic. This includes the endemic genera Aspidura, Balanophis, Cercaspis, Haplocercus, and Pseudotyphlops, which are of uncertain phylogenetic affinity. We present phylogenetic evidence from nuclear and mitochondrial loci showing the relationships of 40 snake species from Sri Lanka (22 endemics) to the remaining global snake fauna. To determine the phylogenetic placement of these species, we create a molecular dataset containing 10 genes for all global snake genera, while also sampling all available species for genera with endemic species occurring in Sri Lanka. Our sampling comprises five mitochondrial genes (12S, 16S, cyt-b, ND2, and ND4) and five nuclear genes (BDNF, c-mos, NT3 RAG-1, and RAG-2), for a total of up to 9582bp per taxon. We find that the five endemic genera represent portions of four independent colonizations of Sri Lanka, with Cercaspis nested within Colubrinae, Balanophis in Natricinae, Pseudotyphlops in Uropeltidae, and that Aspidura+Haplocercus represents a distinct, ancient lineage within Natricinae. We synonymize two endemic genera that render other genera paraphyletic (Haplocercus with Aspidura, and Cercaspis with Lycodon), and discover that further endemic radiations may be present on the island, including a new taxon from the blindsnake family Typhlopidae, suggesting a large endemic radiation. Despite its small size relative to other islands such as New Guinea, Borneo, and Madagascar, Sri Lanka has one of the most phylogenetically diverse island snake faunas in the world, and more research is needed to characterize the island's biodiversity, with numerous undescribed species in multiple lineages.
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