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Major T, Renk P, Reissig J, Paijmans JLA, Morris E, Hofreiter M, Barlow A, Broadley DG, Wüster W. Museum DNA reveals a new, potentially extinct species of rinkhals (Serpentes: Elapidae: Hemachatus) from the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291432. [PMID: 37756254 PMCID: PMC10529548 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic information plays a pivotal role in species recognition and delimitation, but rare or extinct animals can be difficult to obtain genetic samples from. While natural history wet collections have proven invaluable in the description of novel species, the use of these historical samples in genetic studies has been greatly impeded by DNA degradation, especially because of formalin-fixation prior to preservation. Here, we use recently developed museum genomics approaches to determine the status of an isolated population of the elapid snake genus Hemachatus from Zimbabwe. We used multiple digestion phases followed by single strand sequencing library construction and hybridisation capture to obtain 12S and 16S rDNA sequences from a poorly preserved tissue sample of this population. Phylogenetic and morphological analyses in an integrated taxonomic framework demonstrate that the Zimbabwean rinkhals population represents an old and highly distinct lineage, which we describe as a new species, Hemachatus nyangensis sp. nov. Our phylogenetic dating analysis is compatible with venom spitting having evolved in response to the threat posed by early hominins, although more data are required for a robust test of this hypothesis. This description demonstrates the power of museum genomics in revealing rare or even extinct species: Hemachatus from Zimbabwe are only known from a small area of the Eastern Highlands known for high endemism. No living specimens have been seen since the 1980s, most likely due to dramatic land-use changes in the Eastern Highlands, suggesting that the species could be extinct. In view of its recognition as a highly distinct lineage, urgent action is required to determine whether any populations survive, and to safeguard remaining habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Major
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Pia Renk
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jens Reissig
- Ultimate Creatures, Kelvin, Sandton, South Africa
| | | | - Ellie Morris
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Hofreiter
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Axel Barlow
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom
| | | | - Wolfgang Wüster
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom
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Zhao Z, Conradie W, Pietersen DW, Jordaan A, Nicolau G, Edwards S, Riekert S, Heideman N. Diversification of the African legless skinks in the subfamily Acontinae (Family Scincidae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 182:107747. [PMID: 36849095 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107747] [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: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Cladogenic diversification is often explained by referring to climatic oscillations and geomorphic shifts that cause allopatric speciation. In this regard, southern Africa retains a high level of landscape heterogeneity in vegetation, geology, and rainfall patterns. The legless skink subfamily Acontinae occurs broadly across the southern African subcontinent and therefore provides an ideal model group for investigating biogeographic patterns associated with the region. A robust phylogenetic study of the Acontinae with comprehensive coverage and adequate sampling of each taxon has been lacking up until now, resulting in unresolved questions regarding the subfamily's biogeography and evolution. In this study, we used multi-locus genetic markers (three mitochondrial and two nuclear) with comprehensive taxon coverage (all currently recognized Acontinae species) and adequate sampling (multiple specimens for most taxa) of each taxon to infer a phylogeny for the subfamily. The phylogeny retrieved four well-supported clades in Acontias and supported the monophyly of Typhlosaurus. Following the General Lineage Concept (GLC), many long-standing phylogenetic enigmas within Acontias occidentalis and the A. kgalagadi, A. lineatus and A. meleagris species complexes, and within Typhlosaurus were resolved. Our species delimitation analyses suggest the existence of hidden taxa in the A. occidentalis, A. cregoi and A. meleagris species groups, but also suggest that some currently recognized species in the A. lineatus and A. meleagris species groups, and within Typhlosaurus, should be synonymised. We also possibly encountered "ghost introgression" in A. occidentalis. Our inferred species tree revealed a signal of gene flow, which implies possible cross-over in some groups. Fossil evidence calibration dating results showed that the divergence between Typhlosaurus and Acontias was likely influenced by cooling and increasing aridity along the southwest coast in the mid-Oligocene caused by the opening of the Drake Passage. Further cladogenesis observed in Typhlosaurus and Acontias was likely influenced by Miocene cooling, expansion of open habitat, uplifting of the eastern Great Escarpment (GE), and variation in rainfall patterns, together with the effect of the warm Agulhas Current since the early Miocene, the development of the cold Benguela Current since the late Miocene, and their co-effects. The biogeographic pattern of the Acontinae bears close resemblance to that of other herpetofauna (e.g., rain frogs and African vipers) in southern Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongning Zhao
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
| | - Werner Conradie
- Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O. Box 13147, Humewood, Port Elizabeth 6013, South Africa; Department of Nature Conservation Management, Natural Resource Science and Management Cluster, Faculty of Science, George Campus, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
| | - Darren W Pietersen
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, South Africa
| | - Adriaan Jordaan
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Gary Nicolau
- Zoology & Entomology Molecular Lab, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Shelley Edwards
- Zoology & Entomology Molecular Lab, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Stephanus Riekert
- Department of Information and Communication Technology Services, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Neil Heideman
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Channing A, Schmitz A, Zancolli G, Conradie W, Rödel MO. Phylogeny and taxonomy of the African frog genus Strongylopus (Anura: Pyxicephalidae). REV SUISSE ZOOL 2022. [DOI: 10.35929/rsz.0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Channing
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Andreas Schmitz
- Muséum d'histoire naturelle, UREC - Herpetology & Ichthyology, C.P. 6434, CH-1211 Genève 6, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Zancolli
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Université de Lausanne, Quartier UNIL-Sorge Bâtiment Biophore, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Werner Conradie
- Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O. Box 13147, Humewood, Gqeberha 6013, South Africa
| | - Mark-Oliver Rödel
- Museum für Naturkunde – Leibnitz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstr. 43, D-10115 Berlin, Germany
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Zhao Z, Oosthuizen J, Heideman N. How many species does the
Psammobates tentorius
(tent tortoise) species complex (Reptilia, Testudinidae) comprise? A taxonomic solution potentially applicable to species complexes. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongning Zhao
- Department of Zoology and Entomology University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
| | - Jaco Oosthuizen
- School of Pathology University of the Free Bloemfontein South Africa
| | - Neil Heideman
- Department of Zoology and Entomology University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
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Zhao Z, Heideman N, Bester P, Jordaan A, Hofmeyr MD. Correction to: Climatic and topographic changes since the Miocene influenced the diversification and biogeography of the tent tortoise (Psammobates tentorius) species complex in Southern Africa. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:142. [PMID: 34243718 PMCID: PMC8268160 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01868-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongning Zhao
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Biology Building B19, 205 Nelson Mandela Dr, Park West, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
| | - Neil Heideman
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Biology Building B19, 205 Nelson Mandela Dr, Park West, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Phillip Bester
- Department of Virology, University of the Free State and National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Adriaan Jordaan
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Biology Building B19, 205 Nelson Mandela Dr, Park West, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Margaretha D Hofmeyr
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Chelonian Biodiversity and Conservation, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
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Zhao Z, Heideman N, Hofmeyr MD. Codon‐based analysis of selection pressure and genetic structure in the
Psammobates tentorius
(Bell, 1828) species complex, and phylogeny inferred from both codons and amino acid sequences. Afr J Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongning Zhao
- Department of Zoology and Entomology University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
| | - Neil Heideman
- Department of Zoology and Entomology University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
| | - Margaretha D. Hofmeyr
- Chelonian Biodiversity and Conservation Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology University of the Western Cape Bellville South Africa
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