DOCSLIB.ORG

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 51 (2009) 190–200

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 51 (2009) 190–200 Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 51 (2009) 190–200 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Molecular phylogenetics reveals extreme morphological homoplasy in Brazilian worm lizards challenging current taxonomy Tamí Mott a,*, David R. Vieites b a Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, No. 321, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil b Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, C/ José Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain article info abstract Article history: Amphisbaenians are fossorial squamate reptiles distributed mainly in South America and Africa. Brazilian Received 13 April 2008 worm lizards belong to the family Amphisbaenidae, which has far more recognized species than any of Revised 20 January 2009 the other five amphisbaenian families. Morphological datasets recovered Amphisbaenidae as paraphylet- Accepted 25 January 2009 ic, while previous molecular phylogenetic studies did not include enough taxa to solve the generic-level Available online 1 February 2009 relationships within this family. We present a molecular phylogenetic hypothesis based on a sample of 58 amphisbaenians, including representatives of six of the seven South American genera. Our molecular data Keywords: include sequences from two mitochondrial genes (16S, ND2; 1,184 characters) and three nuclear genes Molecular phylogeny (RAG-1, C-MOS, BDNF; 1,898 characters). Our phylogenetic hypothesis is not fully resolved, although it Systematics Amphisbaenidae does not support the monophyly of most genera except Leposternon. Morphological characters currently South America used to diagnose genera of South American amphisbaenians are homoplastic, and the taxonomy based on Morphological homoplasy them is not appropriate. We revise the taxonomy of this group and sink several South American genera of Amphisbaenidae (Cercolophia, Bronia, Aulura, Anops and Leposternon) into Amphisbaena. Ó 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction morphotypes evolved independently on different continents (Kearney and Stuart, 2004). Most authors claim that these charac- Morphological data are the base for the taxonomy of many ters may have evolved by convergence, although parallelism, groups, and have been widely used for phylogenetic reconstruc- understood as the independent evolution of similar traits starting tion. However, those data are prone to homoplasy (Hedges and from a similar ancestral condition, is another possibility (Kearney, Maxson, 1996; Wiens et al., 2003) and may mislead phylogenetic 2003; Kearney and Stuart, 2004). The morphological characters and taxonomic interpretations. Disagreement between molecular used to diagnose genera and species of amphisbaenians may be and morphological data as a result of homoplastic evolution of subject to homoplastic evolution, which may confound the infer- morphological characters is common in many groups. Inference ence of phylogeny in this group. of the phylogenetic relationships in squamates using morphologi- The Suborder Amphisbaenia contains the family Amphisbaeni- cal characters related to limb reduction or loss has been problem- dae. Among the six currently recognized families of amphisbae- atic. This is because those characters show homoplastic evolution nians, Amphisbaenidae has far more recognized species than any in squamate evolutionary history (Brandley et al., 2005; Estes other amphisbaenian family. It includes 15 recognized genera et al., 1988; Kearney, 2003; Kearney and Stuart, 2004; Whiting and at least 175 species. This family is geographically widespread, et al., 2003; Wiens et al., 2006). Limb loss and some degree of fos- with species occurring in Africa, South and Central America (Gans, soriality occurred at least 25 times during squamate evolution 1978, 1990, 2005; Kearney and Stuart, 2004; Macey et al., 2004; Vi- (Wiens et al., 2006). In amphisbaenians, a group of fossorial squa- dal et al., 2008), but no shared genera between continents. Inter- mates of which nearly all species are limbless, limb loss occurred at estingly, this family shows a high diversity of cranial least three times (Kearney and Stuart, 2004). Furthermore, cranial morphotypes. There are three main types of head shapes (round, features, which are also of taxonomic utility in amphisbaenians, shovel and keel-headed) in this family, with representatives of show homoplasy in this group (Kearney and Stuart, 2004). Differ- each morphotype on both continents (Kearney, 2003). Three gen- ent cranial morphotypes are associated with particular stereotyped era, Amphisbaena, Cercolophia and Bronia, show the round-headed burrowing behaviors (Gans, 1974), and these different cranial morphotype in Central and South America, as Chirindia, Cynisca, Loveridgea and Zygapsis do in Africa. Among shovel-headed amphisbaenids, Aulura and Leposternon occur in South America, * Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (T. Mott), [email protected] (D.R. and Dalophia and Monopeltis in Africa. Anops and Mesobaena are Vieites). representatives of keel-headed amphisbaenids that occur in South 1055-7903/$ - see front matter Ó 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.01.014 T. Mott, D.R. Vieites / Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 51 (2009) 190–200 191 America, and Ancylocranium and Geocalamus show this condition in keel-headed amphisbaenid restricted to Venezuela and Colombia Africa. was the only South American genus not included in this study. Cladistic analysis of morphological data suggests paraphyly of We also included in the analyses an African genus of amphisbaenid the family Amphisbaenidae and of the South American amphisbae- (Geocalamus) and at least one representative of all other families, nids (Kearney, 2003). However, the classification according to cra- except Cadeidae, summarizing 34 species of amphisbaenians. Table nial morphotypes was tentative because of potential homoplasy 1 provides a list of the taxa included, including voucher, museum (Kearney, 2003). Molecular phylogenetic hypotheses confirmed and locality information. homoplasy of head shapes (Kearney and Stuart, 2004; Macey We assembled a comprehensive multi-locus dataset. We et al., 2004; Vidal et al., 2008), and disputed the classification based sequenced two mitochondrial and three nuclear markers. Mito- on head morphology (Kearney and Stuart, 2004). Those molecular chondrial genes included the 16S ribosomal RNA (16S) and the studies had a limited representation of Amphisbaenidae (two and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2). Nuclear markers included ten species included in Macey et al., 2004 and Kearney and Stuart, the recombination-activating gene 1 (RAG-1), the nuclear proto- 2004, respectively), and the statistical support for many amphis- oncogene c-mos (C-MOS) and the brain-derived neurotrophic fac- baenid phylogenetic relationships was low. A recent biogeograph- tor (BDNF). Among the genes present in the mitochondrion the ical study on amphisbaenians using genetic data (Vidal et al., 2008) 16S is the most slowly evolving one (Mueller et al., 2004). The included 13 species of West Indian amphisbaenids. Their results ND2 gene has performed well in previous phylogenetic estimations supported monophyly of the family Amphisbaenidae and of the (Zardoya and Meyer, 1996), and it has been used in squamate phy- New World amphisbaenids, but lack most of the genera. The study logenetics (Macey et al., 1997; Townsend et al., 2004). The three included only one genus of New World worm lizards from Central nuclear markers used for phylogenetic inference are functionally America. The phylogenetic relationships of the South American independent, unlinked, and present unique evolutionary patterns. amphisbaenids are still not resolved, both at the species and gen- Previous phylogenetic studies used RAG-1 and C-MOS in squa- eric levels, and a comprehensive study investigating this question mates, including amphisbaenians (Townsend et al., 2004; Kearney is lacking. and Stuart, 2004). BDNF performed well for phylogenetic inference The foundations of the current taxonomy in this clade are mor- in several tetrapod groups (Noonan and Chippindale, 2006; Vieites phological characters used to diagnose genera and species. We et al., 2007). Many studies applied mitochondrial markers to infer analyze the phylogenetic relationships of South American genera species-level phylogenies in squamates, while the use of nuclear of the family Amphisbaenidae by assembling a comprehensive markers is more recent. We analyzed both nuclear and mitochon- multi-locus molecular dataset. The taxa included represent all dif- drial datasets to test for differences in the phylogenetic signal, and ferent cranial morphotypes and include the type species of each performed combined phylogenetic analyses. genus. Most amphisbaenian species are known only from old type We included published information from Genbank for three series, making tissues for molecular work unavailable. In addition, species, Rhineura floridana, Bipes canaliculatus, and Blanus strauchi. the extent and sampling difficulties of the South American conti- (Accession numbers AY605473, AY605484 and AY444024, respec- nent make a continental analysis not yet possible. Therefore, we tively). These species were the only ones for which mitochondrial have focused our efforts mainly in Brazil for several reasons. Nearly and nuclear sequences were not
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Checklist of Helminths from Lizards and Amphisbaenians (Reptilia, Squamata) of South America Ticle R A
    The Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases ISSN 1678-9199 | 2010 | volume 16 | issue 4 | pages 543-572 Checklist of helminths from lizards and amphisbaenians (Reptilia, Squamata) of South America TICLE R A Ávila RW (1), Silva RJ (1) EVIEW R (1) Department of Parasitology, Botucatu Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. Abstract: A comprehensive and up to date summary of the literature on the helminth parasites of lizards and amphisbaenians from South America is herein presented. One-hundred eighteen lizard species from twelve countries were reported in the literature harboring a total of 155 helminth species, being none acanthocephalans, 15 cestodes, 20 trematodes and 111 nematodes. Of these, one record was from Chile and French Guiana, three from Colombia, three from Uruguay, eight from Bolivia, nine from Surinam, 13 from Paraguay, 12 from Venezuela, 27 from Ecuador, 17 from Argentina, 39 from Peru and 103 from Brazil. The present list provides host, geographical distribution (with the respective biome, when possible), site of infection and references from the parasites. A systematic parasite-host list is also provided. Key words: Cestoda, Nematoda, Trematoda, Squamata, neotropical. INTRODUCTION The present checklist summarizes the diversity of helminths from lizards and amphisbaenians Parasitological studies on helminths that of South America, providing a host-parasite list infect squamates (particularly lizards) in South with localities and biomes. America had recent increased in the past few years, with many new records of hosts and/or STUDIED REGIONS localities and description of several new species (1-3).
    [Show full text]
  • Check List 2007: 3(2) ISSN: 1809-127X
    Check List 2007: 3(2) ISSN: 1809-127X NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Reptilia, Squamata, Amphisbaenidae, Amphisbaena mertensi: Distribution extension, new state record, geographic distribution map. Síria Lisandra de Barcelos Ribeiro1 Alfredo Pedroso dos Santos-Jr1 Wilian Vaz-Silva2 1Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Laboratório de Herpetologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia. Avenida Ipiranga 6681, prédio 40, 90619-900, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected]. 2Universidade Federal de Goiás, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Comporta- mento Animal. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais. Caixa Postal 131, CEP 74001-970, Goiânia, GO, Brazil; and Universidade Católica de Goiás, Departamento de Biologia. Avenida Universitária 1440, CEP 74605-900, Goiânia, GO, Brazil. Amphisbaena mertensi Strauch, 1881 is a medium-sized amphisbaenian, diagnosable by its size, cephalic shields, tail form and number of pre-cloacal pores (Gans 1966). Currently, the species has been recorded in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina; Corrientes, Formosa, and Misiones, in Argentina; and Amambay, Figure 1. Dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views of Asunción, Itapua, Tarumá Fondo, and San Pedro, Amphisbaena mertensi (MNRJ 14117) from in Paraguay (Gans 1966; Montero 1996; Montero Aporé municipality, State of Goiás, Central Brazil. and Terol 1999; Pramuk and Alamillo 2003). typical of the Amphisbaena mertensi from the A specimen of Amphisbaena mertensi, deposited State of Mato Grosso (sensu Gans 1966). The in the collection of the Museu Nacional, Rio de rostral scale, visible from dorsal view, is in Janeiro (MNRJ 14117; Figure 1), was collected on contact with paired nasals.
    [Show full text]
  • Herpetology at the Isthmus Species Checklist
    Herpetology at the Isthmus Species Checklist AMPHIBIANS BUFONIDAE true toads Atelopus zeteki Panamanian Golden Frog Incilius coniferus Green Climbing Toad Incilius signifer Panama Dry Forest Toad Rhaebo haematiticus Truando Toad (Litter Toad) Rhinella alata South American Common Toad Rhinella granulosa Granular Toad Rhinella margaritifera South American Common Toad Rhinella marina Cane Toad CENTROLENIDAE glass frogs Cochranella euknemos Fringe-limbed Glass Frog Cochranella granulosa Grainy Cochran Frog Espadarana prosoblepon Emerald Glass Frog Sachatamia albomaculata Yellow-flecked Glass Frog Sachatamia ilex Ghost Glass Frog Teratohyla pulverata Chiriqui Glass Frog Teratohyla spinosa Spiny Cochran Frog Hyalinobatrachium chirripoi Suretka Glass Frog Hyalinobatrachium colymbiphyllum Plantation Glass Frog Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni Fleischmann’s Glass Frog Hyalinobatrachium valeroi Reticulated Glass Frog Hyalinobatrachium vireovittatum Starrett’s Glass Frog CRAUGASTORIDAE robber frogs Craugastor bransfordii Bransford’s Robber Frog Craugastor crassidigitus Isla Bonita Robber Frog Craugastor fitzingeri Fitzinger’s Robber Frog Craugastor gollmeri Evergreen Robber Frog Craugastor megacephalus Veragua Robber Frog Craugastor noblei Noble’s Robber Frog Craugastor stejnegerianus Stejneger’s Robber Frog Craugastor tabasarae Tabasara Robber Frog Craugastor talamancae Almirante Robber Frog DENDROBATIDAE poison dart frogs Allobates talamancae Striped (Talamanca) Rocket Frog Colostethus panamensis Panama Rocket Frog Colostethus pratti Pratt’s Rocket
    [Show full text]
  • A Stem Acrodontan Lizard in the Cretaceous of Brazil Revises Early Lizard Evolution in Gondwana
    ARTICLE Received 5 Apr 2015 | Accepted 23 Jul 2015 | Published 26 Aug 2015 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9149 OPEN A stem acrodontan lizard in the Cretaceous of Brazil revises early lizard evolution in Gondwana Tiago R. Simo˜es1, Everton Wilner2, Michael W. Caldwell1,3, Luiz C. Weinschu¨tz2 & Alexander W.A. Kellner4 Iguanians are one of the most diverse groups of extant lizards (41,700 species) with acrodontan iguanians dominating in the Old World, and non-acrodontans in the New World. A new lizard species presented herein is the first acrodontan from South America, indicating acrodontans radiated throughout Gondwana much earlier than previously thought, and that some of the first South American lizards were more closely related to their counterparts in Africa and Asia than to the modern fauna of South America. This suggests both groups of iguanians achieved a worldwide distribution before the final breakup of Pangaea. At some point, non-acrodontans replaced acrodontans and became the only iguanians in the Amer- icas, contrary to what happened on most of the Old World. This discovery also expands the diversity of Cretaceous lizards in South America, which with recent findings, suggests sphenodontians were not the dominant lepidosaurs in that continent as previously hypothesized. 1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G2E9. 2 Centro Paleontolo´gico da UnC (CENPALEO), Universidade do Contestado, Mafra, Santa Catarina, Brazil CEP 89300-000. 3 Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G2E9. 4 Laboratory of Systematics and Taphonomy of Fossil Vertebrates, Departamento de Geologia e Paleontologia, Museu Nacional/ Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, Sa˜o Cristo´va˜o, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil CEP 20940-040.
    [Show full text]
  • WILDLIFE in a CHANGING WORLD an Analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
    WILDLIFE IN A CHANGING WORLD An analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ Edited by Jean-Christophe Vié, Craig Hilton-Taylor and Simon N. Stuart coberta.indd 1 07/07/2009 9:02:47 WILDLIFE IN A CHANGING WORLD An analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ first_pages.indd I 13/07/2009 11:27:01 first_pages.indd II 13/07/2009 11:27:07 WILDLIFE IN A CHANGING WORLD An analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ Edited by Jean-Christophe Vié, Craig Hilton-Taylor and Simon N. Stuart first_pages.indd III 13/07/2009 11:27:07 The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily refl ect those of IUCN. This publication has been made possible in part by funding from the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland Red List logo: © 2008 Copyright: © 2009 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Vié, J.-C., Hilton-Taylor, C.
    [Show full text]
  • New Records of Predation Interactions Between Birds and Amphisbaenians, and a Report of Bites by Amphisbaena Vermicularis Wagler, 1824 (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae)
    Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 1117-1122 (2021) (published online on 20 Aug 2021) New records of predation interactions between birds and amphisbaenians, and a report of bites by Amphisbaena vermicularis Wagler, 1824 (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) Lucas de Souza Almeida1,* and Lucas Lima Bezerra2 Amphisbaenids are limbless reptiles with worm-like to display defensive tactics such as erratic movements, appearance, reduced eyes, and fossorial habits (Barros- fleeing, caudal luring, gaping the mouth, caudal autotomy, Filho et al., 2008). Their range covers the African and and biting (Greene, 1973; Navega-Gonçalves and Benites, American continents and, up to now, 182 species have 2019; Guedes et al., 2020). Here we present two records been described, of which 82 are reported to occur in of interactions between amphisbaenians and birds, one Brazil (Costa and Bérnils, 2018; Uetz et al., 2020). with a Roadside Hawk, Rupornis magnirostris (Gmelin, These animals are adapted for living most of their lives 1788), and another with a Rufous Hornero, Furnarius in underground galleries (Gans, 1978; Kearney and rufus (Gmelin, 1788). We also report a defensive Stuart, 2004; Bernarde, 2012; Vitt and Caldwell, 2013), behaviour for Amphisbaena vermicularis Wagler, 1824. using their heads with highly specialized and resistant The first interaction occurred on 30 September 2017 bones to excavate (Gans, 1978). Since they inhabit at 11:42 h, after a rainy morning, in a fragment of dense underground galleries, amphisbaenians are difficult to ombrophilous rainforest located in an urban area in the find and, therefore, their natural history,in situ behaviour, coastal city of Peruíbe, São Paulo State, southeastern predators, and prey are rarely documented (Gans, 1971; Brazil (24.3636°S, 47.0213°W; Datum WGS-84; Marques and Sazima, 1997; Filogonio et al., 2009).
    [Show full text]
  • Redalyc.New Record of Amphisbaena Fuliginosa (Squamata
    Biota Neotropica ISSN: 1676-0611 [email protected] Instituto Virtual da Biodiversidade Brasil Lemos, Frederico Gemesio; Gomes Facure, Kátia New record of Amphisbaena fuliginosa (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) for the Cerrado Biome, in an area of extensive cattle ranching Biota Neotropica, vol. 7, núm. 1, enero-abril, 2007, pp. 239-241 Instituto Virtual da Biodiversidade Campinas, Brasil Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=199114289031 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative New record of Amphisbaena fuliginosa (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) for the Cerrado Biome, in an area of extensive cattle ranching Frederico Gemesio Lemos1,3 & Kátia Gomes Facure2 Biota Neotropica v7 (n1) http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v7n1/pt/abstract?short-communication+bn03607012007 Data Received 14/11/06 Revised 12/01/07 Accepted 31/03/07 1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação de Recursos Naturais da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, CEP 38400-902 Uberlândia, MG, Brasil, e-mail: [email protected] 2Laboratório de Taxonomia, Ecologia Comportamental e Sistemática de Anuros Neotropicais, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, CEP 38400-902 Uberlândia, MG, Brasil 3Corresponding author: Kátia Gomes Facure, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Lemos, F.G. & Facure, K.G. New record of Amphisbaena fuliginosa (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) for the Cerrado Biome, in an area of extensive cattle ranching. Biota Neotrop. Jan/Apr 2007 vol. 7, no. 1 http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v7n1/pt/abstract?short-communication+bn03607012007 ISSN 1676-0603.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeny and Evolution of Head Shape in Amphisbaenia
    Roberta Graboski Mendes Phylogeny and evolution of head shape in Amphisbaenia (Reptilia: Squamata). 37 20 57 29 59 18 30 55 52 16 32 45 22 39 54 25 27 53 51 14 23 43 56 26 15 24 41 60 21 31 35 58 17 28 19 Amphisbaena unilepida sp a r Amphisbaena frontalis i l Amphisbaena hetero l Amphisbaena ibija e Amphisbaena t i i h r Amphisbaena heathi r Amphisbaena darwinii ingoe ia c r r t i Amphisbaena p is Amphisbaena A m r ulu Amphisbaena angustifrons a n r e Amphisbaena dubia a anomala micula a r b e s v i r Amphisbaena anaema achu h aoh r p a Amphisbaena hogei z r m r r m u unicolor onata a m unoai A r Amphisbaena caia Amphisbaena sp Goias Amphisbaena me Anops kingii a Amphisbaena leese Amphisbaena ignatiana Amphisbaena arena Bronia bedai Bronia k rtensii Amphisbaena c Bronia saxosa Amphisbaena Amphisbaena mensae Amphisbaena pretrei ia Amphisbaena leucocephala ar zolinii v ri Cercolophia cuiabana r Amphisbaena alba an Cercolophia steindachne iae Amphisbaena ca v Amphisbaena supe r Amphisbaena bolivica isae Amphisbaena me Amphisbaena cunhai Amphisbaena Amphisbaena hastata rnume Amphisbaena fuliginosa ri Amphisbaena fuliginosa bassle Cercolophia bahianararia Amphisbaena fuliginosaridleyi wiedi Amphisbaena ur Amphisbaena innocens Amphisbaena Amphisbaena sp Ilheusoxena Anops bilabialatus rasiliana Leposternon microcephalum Bronia b Bronia cf brasiliana Leposternon infraorbitalae Bronia cf brasiliana1 ri Psammodro Leposternon wuchere mus algirus rum Nucras sp Leposternon scutige Podarcis bocagei non polystegum Takydro r m Leposte era Lace us ocellatus
    [Show full text]
  • Amphisbaena Mertensi Strauch, 1881 (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) in Central Brazil
    16 3 NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Check List 16 (3): 655–659 https://doi.org/10.15560/16.3.655 Distribution extension and a new state record for Amphisbaena mertensi Strauch, 1881 (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) in central Brazil Bruno Alessandro Augusto Peña Corrêa¹, ², Afonso Santiago de Oliveira Meneses¹ 1 Universidade de Brasília, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Laboratório de Fauna e Unidades de Conservação, L3 norte, Brasília, DF, CEP 70919-970, Brazil, 2 Universidade de Brasília, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Laboratório de Anatomia Comparada de Vertebrados, L3 norte, Brasília, DF, CEP 70919-970, Brazil. Corresponding author: Bruno Alessandro Augusto Peña Corrêa, [email protected] Abstract We updated the distribution of Amphisbaena mertensi to northeastern central Brazil based on the finding of a speci- men in an urban area in the Cerrado. This species had already been recorded in south-central Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Our new record is 300 km away from the nearest point, Araguari, in the north of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We included a distribution map for the species in South America, and a list of the amphisbaenas species found in Distrito Federal and discuss the conservation of this group. Keywords Cerrado, Distrito Federal, Squamata, Neotropical, South America, worm lizard. Academic editor: Raúl Maneyro | Received 11 February 2020 | Accepted 13 May 2020 | Published 26 May 2020 Citation: Corrêa BAAP, Meneses ASO (2020) Distribution extension and a new state record for Amphisbaena mertensi Strauch, 1881 (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) in central Brazil. Check List 16 (3): 655–659. https://doi.org/10.15560/16.3.655 Introduction Amphisbaenians are squamate reptiles which can be There are 131 species in the genus Amphisbaena identified by the presence of segmented scales and a ser- Linnaeus, 1758 (Costa and Garcia 2019; Uetz 2019).
    [Show full text]
  • First Description of Swimming Behaviour of Amphisbaena Bassleri Linnaeus, 1758 (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae)
    Herpetology Notes, volume 11: 817-818 (2018) (published online on 27 September 2018) First description of swimming behaviour of Amphisbaena bassleri Linnaeus, 1758 (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) Yntze van der Hoek1,* Amphisbaenians are predominantly fossorial species Ikiam’s weather station), a large flood occurred in the and are therefore commonly considered to have city of Tena, Ecuador. As a result, a privately-owned restricted locomotor abilities (Longrich et al., 2015). house near 0.9911°S and 77.8101°W (elev. ca. 510 m) In turn, this has led to the hypothesis that the dispersal flooded up to the first floor, submerging the basement capacity and range of these species is limited (Hembree, level entirely. A day (24 h) later, the water level in 2006), which is at odds with recent biogeographic, this basement receded to a height of approximately 1 phylogenetic, and phylogeographic analyses suggesting m, after which I found a live specimen of A. bassleri that oceanic rafting might have played a substantial alternatingly swimming and resting on pieces of woody role in the dispersion of these species across continents debris (Fig. 1; supplemental video deposited at https:// (Vidal et al., 2008; Vidal, 2009; Longrich, 2015). youtu.be/eAnKWIghvaM). Although dispersal on woody debris or other types Given that the basement had been flooded in its entirety of ‘floating islands’ requires little movement from for many hours, this individual of A. bassleri had been individual organisms, it does suggest that at least some at least partially submerged in water for an extended of these species have the capacity to withstand above- period.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 53, Number 11 01/11/2018
    BULLETIN of the Chicago Herpetological Society Volume 53, Number 11 November 2018 BULLETIN OF THE CHICAGO HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY Volume 53, Number 11 November 2018 Toad Stools: Part Three . Dennis A. Meritt Jr. 225 The Parasites of Worm Lizards (Amphisbaenia) . Dreux J. Watermolen 227 What You Missed at the October Meeting: Roger Carter . .John Archer 241 Some Early Adventures with ’Winders . Roger A. Repp 243 Minutes of the CHS Board Meeting, August 17, 2018 . 247 Turtle Poetry: On Chasing Blanding’s Ghost . Sean M. Hartzell 247 Advertisements . 248 New CHS Members This Month . 248 Cover: Nile soft-shelled turtle, Trionyx triunguis. Drawing (as Trionyx labiatus) from A Monograph of the Testudinata by Thomas Bell, 1832–1836. STAFF Membership in the CHS includes a subscription to the monthly Bulletin. Annual dues are: Individual Membership, $25.00; Editor: Michael A. Dloogatch --- [email protected] Family Membership, $28.00; Sustaining Membership, $50.00; Copy editor: Joan Moore Contributing Membership, $100.00; Institutional Membership, $38.00. Remittance must be made in U.S. funds. Subscribers 2017 CHS Board of Directors outside the U.S. must add $12.00 for postage. Send membership dues or address changes to: Chicago Herpetological Society, President: Rich Crowley Membership Secretary, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614. Vice-president: Jessica Wadleigh Treasurer: John Archer Manuscripts published in the Bulletin of the Chicago Herpeto- Recording Secretary: Gail Oomens logical Society are not peer reviewed. Manuscripts and letters Media Secretary: Kim Klisiak concerning editorial business should be e-mailed to the editor, Membership Secretary: Mike Dloogatch [email protected]. Alternatively, they may be mailed Sergeant-at-arms: Mike Scott to: Chicago Herpetological Society, Publications Secretary, 2430 Members-at-large: Dan Bavirsha N.
    [Show full text]
  • (Ampisbania,Reptlia .~~~O Th ~~'American Museum of Natural History~~~~~~~~~~~~ Voum 13:Atce2 E Ok16
    141. Al (AMPISBANIA,REPTLIA .~~~O TH ~~'AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY~~~~~~~~~~~~ VOUM 13:ATCE2 E OK16 A CHECK LIST OF RECENT AMPHISBAENIANS (AMPHISBAENIA, REPTILIA) CARL GANS Research Associate, Department of Herpetology The American Museum of Natural History Professor of Biology State University of New York at Buffalo BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY VOLUME 135 : ARTICLE 2 NEW YORK 1967 BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Volume 135, article 2, pages 61-106 Issued February 20, 1967 Price: $1.50 a copy INTRODUCTION THE AMPHISBAENIA are an excellent demon- contains a remarkably useful section of gen- stration of the futility of the classical, or eric synonyms. typological, species concept. Parallelism and The present check list forms an interim convergence, caused by the strong selec- summary in a program of re-evaluation that tive pressures on the cephalic scutellation, may ultimately result in a monograph of the together with the limited number of external group. Emphasis has been placed on a com- characteristics available to the taxonomist, plete listing of described forms and syn- have provided unusual opportunities for con- onyms, rather than on a review of their ge- fusion. The difficulties are compounded by neric status. In view of my continuing interest the extremely restricted ranges inhabited by in the group, I shall appreciate comments many species, and by the seemingly disjunct and corrections. distribution of more wide-ranging forms. The subterranean mode of life keeps these ani- GENERAL APPROACH mals out of the way of the casual collector. The review of the amphisbaenians of which In consequence they have been scarce in col- this paper forms a part has been designed as a lections, and many species have been inad- basis for additional studies of their system- equately described, often on the basis of atics, morphology, physiology, and behavior.
    [Show full text]