DOCSLIB.ORG

Taxonomic Investigation of the Genus Ablepharus (Sauria; Scincidae) with Molecular and Morphological Methods in Anatolian Populations

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool (2020) 44: 134-145 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/ © TÜBİTAK Research Article doi:10.3906/zoo-1911-14 Taxonomic investigation of the genus Ablepharus (Sauria; Scincidae) with molecular and morphological methods in Anatolian populations 1, 2 Emin BOZKURT *, Kurtuluş OLGUN 1 Department of Veterinary Sciences, Eldivan Vocational School of Health Services, Çankırı Karatekin University, Çankırı, Turkey 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey Received: 11.11.2019 Accepted/Published Online: 28.01.2020 Final Version: 04.03.2020 Abstract: Ablepharus Lichtenstein, 1823, which includes ten species, is distributed in eastern Europe and Asia. Four species are recorded in Turkey: A. kitaibelii, A. chernovi, A. bivittatus, and A. budaki. After molecular and morphological studies in Anatolia, the phylogenetic relationship of the genus is still very complicated. Here, we investigate the taxonomic status of Ablepharus in Anatolia using morphological and molecular methods. The genetic structure ofAblepharus populations in Anatolia was analyzed using both the nuclear (CMOS) and mitochondrial (cyt b and COI) gene regions. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods were applied for phylogenetic tree reconstruction, together with calculation of p-distances and reconstruction of haplotype networks. The morphological analysis was evaluated with SPSS by using 12 metric and 17 meristic characteristics. In total, 41 specimens and 279 specimens were used for the molecular and morphological analysis, respectively. A. bivittatus has highly different genetic and morphological characteristics compared to the others, and it shares similar morphological characteristics with the genus Asymblepharus, which are elliptical tympanum, hidden upper eye opening under 3 or 4 large shields, light and dark longitudinal stripes on the back, adpressed hind-limbs reaching to knees, and well-developed limbs with five toes. For this reason,A. bivittatus was placed in the genus Asymblepharus as Asymblepharus bivittatus comb. nov. A. budaki anatolicus was elevated to species level as A. anatolicus based on morphological and genetic data. In this study, Anatolian A. kitaibelii comprised two sister subclades, A. kitaibelii kitaibelii and A. kitaibelii stepaneki, and this research is the first record of A. kitaibelii stepaneki in Turkey. A. chernovi was divided into three subclades: A. chernovi chernovi, A. chernovi eiselti, and A. chernovi isaurensis. Key words: Skinks, Turkey, Asymblepharus, pholidosis, phylogeny 1. Introduction Asia and colonized the Balkan Peninsula from Anatolia Scincidae is the largest lizard family with 1598 species about 5.51 million years ago (Skourtanioti et al., 2016). representing more than 25% of the world’s lizard species Ablepharus kitaibelii (Bibron and Bory, 1833) was (Bauer, 1998; Hedges, 2014; Skourtanioti et al., 2016). This described from the Pylos ruins. In 1953, A. chernovi was family was divided into seven subfamilies by Hedges (2014): described by Darevsky in Armenia. Fuhn (1970) defined Acontinae, Egerniinae, Eugongylinae, Lygosominae, the subspecies of A. k. stepaneki and introduced five Mabuyinae, Sphenomorphinae, and Scincinae. Pyron subspecies: A. k. chernovi, A. k. fabichi, A. k. fitzingeri, A. et al. (2013) stated that Scincinae and Feylininae are k. kitaibelii, and A. k. stepaneki. Eremchenko and Sczerbak synonymous. Ten species belonging to Scincidae are (1986) considered A. chernovi as a separate species. distributed in Anatolia and these are Ablepharus bivittatus, Göçmen et al. (1996) described a new subspecies, A. A. budaki, A. chernovi, A. kitaibelii, Chalcides ocellatus, kitaibelii budaki, in Cyprus. Eumeces schneideri, Heremites auratus, H. septemtaeniatus, Schmidtler (1997) made a comprehensive revision H. vittatus, and Ophiomorus kardesi (Schmidtler, 1997; of the genus Ablepharus in Anatolia and the Middle East Ilgaz et al., 2007; Kumlutaş et al., 2007; Poulakakis et al., and (1) raised A. kitaibelii chernovi to the species level as 2008; Durmuş et al.; 2011; Baran et al., 2012; Karin et al., Ablepharus chernovi Darevsky, 1953 and recognized four 2016, Kornilios et al., 2018). subspecies (A. c. chernovi, A. c. eiselti, A. c. isaurensis, Ablepharus Lichtenstein, 1823 is distributed in eastern and A. c. ressli) in Anatolia; (2) raised A. k. budaki to the Europe and Asia and is currently represented by ten species level as Ablepharus budaki Göçmen et al. 1996 and species (Poulakakis et al., 2005). It originated in southeast described two subspecies (A. b. budaki and A. b. anatolicus) * Correspondence: [email protected] 134 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. BOZKURT and OLGUN / Turk J Zool in southern Anatolia; and (3) restricted the distribution The mitochondrial cyt b region was also amplified via of A. kitaibelii kitaibelii from the Balkan Peninsula to PCR using the following primers: PL 5’-AAC CAA GAC Central Anatolia. Skourtanioti et al. (2016) proposed that CTG TGA YAY GAA-3’ and PH 5’-GGC TTA CAA GAC the western Anatolian and Kastelorizo populations could CAR KGC TTT-3’. The PCR reaction was carried out in a represent a distinct species with the available name A. total volume of 25 µL, with the following conditions: an anatolicus. initial cycle of 94 °C for 3 min, followed by 35 cycles of 94 The aim of this study was to solve the taxonomic °C for 30 s, 52 °C for 40 s, and 72 °C for 90 s, and a final issues of the genus Ablepharus in Anatolian populations cycle of 72 °C for 10 min (Huang et al., 2013). In addition with morphological and molecular analyses. Here, to the previous gene region, the mitochondrial COI region two mitochondrial markers (cyt b and COI) and one was amplified via PCR using the RepCOI-F 5’-TNT TMT nuclear marker (CMOS) were used and a morphological CAA CNA ACC ACA AAG A-3’ and RepCOI-R 5’-ACT analysis was also performed using metric and meristic TCT GGR TGK CCA AAR AAT CA-3’ primers. The PCR characteristics. reaction was carried out in a total volume of 25 µL, with the following conditions: an initial cycle of 94 °C for 3 min, 2. Materials and methods followed by 40 cycles of 94 °C for 40 s, 49 °C for 30 s, and 2.1. Genetic methods 74 °C for 1 min, and a final cycle of 72 °C for 7 min (Nagy To analyze the molecular sequences, 41 samples (Figure et al., 2012). A commercial automated sequencer was used 1; Table 1) with total DNA extracted by using a standard to sequence the amplified products (GATC-Biotech AG, phenol/chloroform procedure (Hillis and Moritz, 1990) Konstanz, Germany). were used. The nuclear CMOS region was amplified via DNA sequences were aligned using the CLUSTAL W polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the following algorithm as implemented in BioEdit version 7.2.5 (Hall, primers: G73.1 5’-GGC TRT AAA RCA RGT GAA GAA 1999) while manually adjusting the alignments. Two A-3’ and G74.1 5’-GAR CWT CCA AAG TCT CCA ATC- different phylogenetic approaches were used, maximum 3’. The PCR reaction was carried out in a total volume of likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI), for the 25 µL, with the following conditions: an initial cycle of 92 partitioned concatenated alignment. The best models of °C for 12 min, followed by 40 cycles of 94 °C for 1 min, 56 nucleotide substitution for each gene were calculated in Mr °C for 1 min, and 72 °C for 1 min, and a final cycle of 72 °C Modeltest v3.7 (Posada and Crandall, 1998) based on the for 5 min (Whiting et al., 2003). Akaike information criterion. The bootstrap method with Figure 1. Distribution of the lizards used in the molecular and morphological analysis. For more details on samples, check Table 1. Colors indicate the lineages based on the analysis (orange: A. bivittatus, claret red: A. chernovi chernovi, pink: A. chernovi eiselti, yellow: A. chernovi isaurensis, red: A. budaki budaki, green: A. budaki anatolicus, blue: A. kitaibelii kitaibelii, and turquoise: A. kitaibelii stepaneki). 135 BOZKURT and OLGUN / Turk J Zool Table 1. List of the materials used in the molecular and morphological analysis. Number of samples used in Working morphological GenBank accession number, cyt b/ Taxon Locality number analyses COI/CMOS (♂♂/♀♀/ juveniles) 1 0/1/0 A. c. isaurensis Between Gülnar and Mut, 18 km/Mersin MN447752/*/MN418805 2 1/2/0 A. c. isaurensis Meke Saline/Konya MN447755/MN447788/MN418805 3 0/1/0 A. c. isaurensis Alahan/Mersin MN447758/*/MN418805 4 0/0/1 A. c. isaurensis Berendi village/Karaman MN447762/MN447793/MN418805 5 1/1/0 A. c. isaurensis Ortaören/Mersin MN447757/MN447790/MN418805 6 0/3/0 A. c. isaurensis Beyşehir/Konya MN447765/*/MN418805 7 7/9/0 A. c. isaurensis Kohu Mountain/Antalya MN447761/MN447792/MN418808 8 0/1/0 A. c. eiselti Mansurlu/Adana MN447749/MN447785/MN418808 9 3/1/0 A. c. eiselti Çamlıyayla/Mersin MN447759/MN447791/MN418808 10 1/1/0 A. c. chernovi Evcihüyük village/Kahramanmaraş MN447748/*/MN418808 11 1/2/0 A. c. chernovi Akoluk village/Kayseri MN447751/*/MN418808 12 0/1/0 A. c. chernovi Suceyin village/Malatya MN447750/*/MN418808 13 0/1/0 A. c. chernovi Yumaklıcerit village/Adıyaman MN447753/MN447786/MN418808 14 0/0/2 A. c. chernovi Sarısalkım village/Gaziantep MN447756/MN447789/MN418808 15 1/1/0 A. c. chernovi Between Kilis and Hassa, 7 km/Kilis MN447760/*/MN418808 16 0/1/0 A. c. chernovi Milkisağ village/Tunceli MN447754/MN447787/MN418808 17 2/1/1 A. c. chernovi Akdamar Island/Van MN447763/*/MN418808 18 1/0/0 A. k. kitaibelii Osmaniye village/Aydın MN447764/*/MN418804 19 1/1/0 A. k. kitaibelii Eber Lake/Konya MN447766/MN447794/MN418804 20 4/6/2 A. k. kitaibelii Between Eğirdir and Gelendost/Isparta MN447773/*/MN418804 21 3/4/1 A. k. kitaibelii Eğirdir/Isparta MN447772/MN447796/MN418806 22 1/1/0 A.
Recommended publications
  • Tyf ;L/;[Kx¿ 5]Kf/Fx¿ / Uf]Xlx¿ Afnk':Ts

    Tyf ;L/;[Kx¿ 5]Kf/Fx¿ / Uf]Xlx¿ Afnk':Ts

    AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF NEPAL LIZARDS AND CROCODILES A CHILDREN’S BOOK g]kfnsf peor/ tyf ;l/;[kx¿ 5]kf/fx¿ / uf]xLx¿ afnk':ts H. Hermann Schleich & Kaluram Rai xd{g :NofOv tyf sfn'/fd /fO{ Published by ARCO-Nepal reg. soc. k|sfzs cfsf{] g]kfn O=eL= 1 Amphibians and Reptiles Class: Reptilia, Reptiles, N: Sarisripaharu Vertebrates with mostly 4 limbs; normally 5 clawed digits. Limbs are lacking in snakes. There are many lizards with reduced limbs and digits. Reptile skin is covered by horny structures of different size (scales, plates, granules, tubercles etc.) and provided with few glands. All main reptilian groups are represented in Nepal: Crocodiles (Order Crocodylia) with 2 species, turtles and tortoises (Order Testudines) with about 15, and scaled reptiles (Order Squamata) with about 40 lizard and about 70 snake species. Order Crocodylia - Crocodiles Crocodiles, N: Gohiharu Large to very large aquatic reptiles with a laterally flattened tail and with digits webbed; 5 fingers and 4 toes. Eyes and nostrils are placed on the highest parts of the head. The ears can be closed with a valve. The skin is covered with thick horny plates which are – at least dorsally – underlain with an armour of flat bones. They lay large clutches of oval eggs, being deposited in nests which are dug into sand or consist of large mounds of rotting plants. The nests are guarded by adults. When the eggs are close to hatching, the juveniles inside them start squawking. At this acoustic signal a parent opens the nest, even helps the juveniles out of the eggshell.
  • Diversity of Hemipenes and Its Taxonomical Implication in the Genus Ablepharus (Squamata: Scincidae)

    Diversity of Hemipenes and Its Taxonomical Implication in the Genus Ablepharus (Squamata: Scincidae)

    ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e39487 doi: 10.3897/aca.2.e39487 Conference Abstract Diversity of hemipenes and its taxonomical implication in the genus Ablepharus (Squamata: Scincidae) Vladislav Vergilov‡, Georgi Popgeorgiev‡§, Boyan Zlatkov ‡ National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria § Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria Corresponding author: Vladislav Vergilov ([email protected]) Received: 27 Aug 2019 | Published: 28 Aug 2019 Citation: Vergilov V, Popgeorgiev G, Zlatkov B (2019) Diversity of hemipenes and its taxonomical implication in the genus Ablepharus(Squamata: Scincidae). ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e39487. https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e39487 Abstract The genus Ablepharus encompasses 10 species and 12 subspecies, distributed from Hungary to India. Most species and subspecies have been described from the Middle East and Central Asia, based on external morphology (pholidosis, body size and coloration). The present study is an attempt to demonstrate the hemipenial morphology throughout the genus. Some taxonomical questions arose during comparison of the hemipenes of several subspecies and species, showing the necessity of a revision of the genus. A dendrogram generated from distinctive hemipenial characters revealed rapid divergence of this structure in closely related taxa and discrepancy with the phylogenetic tree based on molecular data from previous studies. Keywords skink, morphology, hemipenis, relationships © Vergilov
  • Amphibian and Reptilian Biodiversty of Ararat Mountain and Near Environment

    Amphibian and Reptilian Biodiversty of Ararat Mountain and Near Environment

    ’ Ğ ğıİÇçÜıı AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILIAN BIODIVERSTY OF ARARAT MOUNTAIN AND NEAR ENVIRONMENT Mehmet Zülfü YILDIZ* Naşit İĞCİ** Bahadır AKMAN*** Bayram GÖÇMEN**** ABSTRACT n this study, it is aimed to determine Amphibian and Reptilian species of Ararat Mountain and near Environment, threats to species and precautions to be taken against these factors. IFor these purposes, total of 18 days herpetological trips carried out in Ararat Mountain between 2011-2017. As a result of the trips and literature searches, 4 Anuran (Bufotes variabilis, Pelophylax ridibundus, Hyla savignyi, Pelobates syriacus), 2 Chelonian species (Mauremys caspica, Testudo graeca) 10 lizard species (Paralaudakia caucasia, Phrynocephalus horvathi, Heremites auratus, Eumeces schneiderii, Eremias strauchi, Eremias pleskei, Darevskia valentini, Lacerta strigata, Ophisops elegans, Pseudopus apodus) and 13 snake species (Xertoyphlops vermicularis, Dolichophis schmidti, Eirenis collaris, Hemorrhois ravergieri, Natrix natrix, N. tessellata, Platyceps najadum, Zamenis hohenackeri, Z. longissimus, Eryx jaculus, Malpolon insignitus, Macrovipera lebetina, Montivipera raddei) a total of 4 amphibians and 25 reptilian species belonging to 14 families were determined in Ararat Mountain. The observed specimens were released to their natural habitats after their photos were taken, not to damage the populations. According to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) determined species listed as follows: 2 species were Critically Endangered (CR), 1 species was Vulnerable (VU), 2 species were Near Threatened (NT), 1 species was Data Deficient (DD), 16 species were Least Concern (LC), 8 not evaluated. Just only, two species were protected under CITES Convention, and 9 species were also strictly protected (Appendix II) and the rest of the species were protected with BERN Convention. In addition, the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs protect all reptile species but not Amphibians.
  • Notes and Comments on the Distribution of Two Endemic Lygosoma Skinks (Squamata: Scincidae: Lygosominae) from India

    Notes and Comments on the Distribution of Two Endemic Lygosoma Skinks (Squamata: Scincidae: Lygosominae) from India

    Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2014 | 6(14): 6726–6732 Note The family Scincidae is the Notes and comments on the distribution largest group among lizards, of two endemic Lygosoma skinks comprising more than 1558 species (Squamata: Scincidae: Lygosominae) ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) (Uetz & Hosek 2014). Of the from India ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) seven subfamilies recognized, the subfamily Lygosominae contains Raju Vyas OPEN ACCESS over 52 species in five genera (Uetz & Hosek 2014). The genus 505, Krishnadeep Tower, Mission Road, Fatehgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat Lygosoma Hardwicke & Gray, 1827 has a long and 390002, India [email protected] complicated nomenclatural history (see Geissler et al. 2011). In India, the genus Lygosoma is represented by nine species, of which five are endemic (Datta-Roy et al. 2014), including Günther’s Supple Skink Lygosoma City, Vadodara District and after examination both the guentheri (Peters, 1879) and the Lined Supple Skink skinks were released in the nearby riverine habitat of Lygosoma lineata (Gray, 1839). These are less studied, Vishwamitri River within the limits of the city area. terrestrial, insectivorous and diurnal supple-skinks Lygosoma guentheri: On 12 December 2013, a large (Molur & Walker 1998). Both these species are found adult specimen of Lygosoma (Image 1) was captured by in peninsular India and are classified ‘Least Concern’ a local rescue group from a garden in Vadodara City, species by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Gujarat. The specimen was identified as L. guentheri (Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu 2013a, b). with the help of the literature (Boulenger 1890; Smith Reserved forest and degraded areas of the northern 1935).
  • Husbandry Manual for the Shingleback Lizard Tiliqua Rugosa

    Husbandry Manual for the Shingleback Lizard Tiliqua Rugosa

    Husbandry Manual for The Shingleback Lizard Tiliqua rugosa GRAY, 1825 Reptilia:Scincidae Compiler: Andrew Titmuss Date of Preparation: 2007 University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury © Andrew Titmuss 2007 1 A Husbandry Manual template has been developed to standardise information on captive management needs in a concise, accessible and usable form. Currently there is no Husbandry Manual for the Shingleback Lizard. As these lizards are commonly kept in zoological and private collections in Australia and internationally, a Husbandry Manual could be widely used. This Husbandry Manual is set out as per the husbandry manual template designed by Stephen Jackson and Graeme Phipps. The template is a document that was created to maintain husbandry manual uniformity and thus its effectiveness and ease of use. It is intended as a working document. It is designed to be used by any institution, as well as private collections, holding this species. Although these lizards are easy to keep in captivity they do have some special requirements. The aim of the Husbandry Manual is to summarise and consolidate information regarding OHS, natural history, captive management and ethical husbandry techniques and conservation from a variety of sources. It should provide information on appropriate husbandry with scope for improved health and welfare and captive breeding if required. The University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury Campus, is planning on keeping Shingleback Lizards amongst other species in their reptile unit. This manual can be used by the University of
  • An Overview and Checklist of the Native and Alien Herpetofauna of the United Arab Emirates

    An Overview and Checklist of the Native and Alien Herpetofauna of the United Arab Emirates

    Herpetological Conservation and Biology 5(3):529–536. Herpetological Conservation and Biology Symposium at the 6th World Congress of Herpetology. AN OVERVIEW AND CHECKLIST OF THE NATIVE AND ALIEN HERPETOFAUNA OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 1 1 2 PRITPAL S. SOORAE , MYYAS AL QUARQAZ , AND ANDREW S. GARDNER 1Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, e-mail: [email protected] 2Natural Science and Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences, Zayed University, P.O. Box 4783, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Abstract.—This paper provides an updated checklist of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) native and alien herpetofauna. The UAE, while largely a desert country with a hyper-arid climate, also has a range of more mesic habitats such as islands, mountains, and wadis. As such it has a diverse native herpetofauna of at least 72 species as follows: two amphibian species (Bufonidae), five marine turtle species (Cheloniidae [four] and Dermochelyidae [one]), 42 lizard species (Agamidae [six], Gekkonidae [19], Lacertidae [10], Scincidae [six], and Varanidae [one]), a single amphisbaenian, and 22 snake species (Leptotyphlopidae [one], Boidae [one], Colubridae [seven], Hydrophiidae [nine], and Viperidae [four]). Additionally, we recorded at least eight alien species, although only the Brahminy Blind Snake (Ramphotyplops braminus) appears to have become naturalized. We also list legislation and international conventions pertinent to the herpetofauna. Key Words.— amphibians; checklist; invasive; reptiles; United Arab Emirates INTRODUCTION (Arnold 1984, 1986; Balletto et al. 1985; Gasperetti 1988; Leviton et al. 1992; Gasperetti et al. 1993; Egan The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of 2007).
  • Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History Database

    Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History Database

    Literature Cited in Lizards Natural History database Abdala, C. S., A. S. Quinteros, and R. E. Espinoza. 2008. Two new species of Liolaemus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from the puna of northwestern Argentina. Herpetologica 64:458-471. Abdala, C. S., D. Baldo, R. A. Juárez, and R. E. Espinoza. 2016. The first parthenogenetic pleurodont Iguanian: a new all-female Liolaemus (Squamata: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. Copeia 104:487-497. Abdala, C. S., J. C. Acosta, M. R. Cabrera, H. J. Villaviciencio, and J. Marinero. 2009. A new Andean Liolaemus of the L. montanus series (Squamata: Iguania: Liolaemidae) from western Argentina. South American Journal of Herpetology 4:91-102. Abdala, C. S., J. L. Acosta, J. C. Acosta, B. B. Alvarez, F. Arias, L. J. Avila, . S. M. Zalba. 2012. Categorización del estado de conservación de las lagartijas y anfisbenas de la República Argentina. Cuadernos de Herpetologia 26 (Suppl. 1):215-248. Abell, A. J. 1999. Male-female spacing patterns in the lizard, Sceloporus virgatus. Amphibia-Reptilia 20:185-194. Abts, M. L. 1987. Environment and variation in life history traits of the Chuckwalla, Sauromalus obesus. Ecological Monographs 57:215-232. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2003. Anfibios y reptiles del Uruguay. Montevideo, Uruguay: Facultad de Ciencias. Achaval, F., and A. Olmos. 2007. Anfibio y reptiles del Uruguay, 3rd edn. Montevideo, Uruguay: Serie Fauna 1. Ackermann, T. 2006. Schreibers Glatkopfleguan Leiocephalus schreibersii. Munich, Germany: Natur und Tier. Ackley, J. W., P. J. Muelleman, R. E. Carter, R. W. Henderson, and R. Powell. 2009. A rapid assessment of herpetofaunal diversity in variously altered habitats on Dominica.
  • Arrival and Diversification of Mabuyine Skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) in the Neotropics Based on a Fossil-Calibrated Timetree

    Arrival and Diversification of Mabuyine Skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) in the Neotropics Based on a Fossil-Calibrated Timetree

    Arrival and diversification of mabuyine skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) in the Neotropics based on a fossil-calibrated timetree Anieli Guirro Pereira and Carlos G. Schrago Department of Genetics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil ABSTRACT Background. The evolution of South American Mabuyinae skinks holds significant biogeographic interest because its sister lineage is distributed across the African continent and adjacent islands. Moreover, at least one insular species, Trachylepis atlantica, has independently reached the New World through transoceanic dispersal. To clarify the evolutionary history of both Neotropical lineages, this study aimed to infer an updated timescale using the largest species and gene sampling dataset ever assembled for this group. By extending the analysis to the Scincidae family, we could employ fossil information to estimate mabuyinae divergence times and carried out a formal statistical biogeography analysis. To unveil macroevolutionary patterns, we also inferred diversification rates for this lineage and evaluated whether the colonization of South American continent significantly altered the mode of Mabuyinae evolution. Methods. A time-calibrated phylogeny was inferred under the Bayesian framework employing fossil information. This timetree was used to (i) evaluate the historical biogeography of mabuiyines using the statistical approach implemented in Bio- GeoBEARS; (ii) estimate macroevolutionary diversification rates of the South American Mabuyinae lineages and the patterns of evolution of selected traits, namely, the mode of reproduction, body mass and snout–vent length; (iii) test the hypothesis of differential macroevolutionary patterns in South American lineages in BAMM and GeoSSE; and Submitted 21 November 2016 (iv) re-evaluate the ancestral state of the mode of reproduction of mabuyines.
  • Species List of Amphibians and Reptiles from Turkey

    Species List of Amphibians and Reptiles from Turkey

    Journal of Animal Diversity Online ISSN 2676-685X Volume 2, Issue 4 (2020) http://dx.doi.org/10.29252/JAD.2020.2.4.2 Review Article Species list of Amphibians and Reptiles from Turkey Muammer Kurnaz Gümüşhane University, Kelkit Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Medical Services and Techniques 29600, Kelkit / Gümüşhane, Turkey *Corresponding author : [email protected] Abstract Turkey is biogeographically diverse and consequently has a rich herpetofauna. As a result of active herpetological research, the number of species has steadily increased in recent years. I present here a new checklist of amphibian and reptile species distributed in Turkey, revising the nomenclature to reflect the latest taxonomic knowledge. In addition, information about the systematics of many species is also given. In total 35 (19.4%) amphibian and 145 Received: 8 October 2020 (80.6%) reptile species comprise the Turkish herpetofauna. Among amphibians, 16 (45.7%) Accepted: 23 December 2020 anurans and 19 urodelans (54.3%) are present. Among reptiles, 11 (7.6%) testudines, 71 Published online: 31 January 2021 (49%) saurians, 3 (2.1%) amphisbaenians and 60 (41.3%) ophidians are considered part of the herpetofauna. The endemism rate in Turkey is considered relatively high with a total of 34 species (12 amphibian species – 34.3% and 22 reptile species – 15.2%) endemic to Turkey, yielding a total herpetofaunal endemism of 18.9%. While 38 species have not been threat-assessed by the IUCN, 92 of the 180 Turkish herpetofaunal species are of Least Concern (LC), 13 are Near Threatened (NT), 10 are Vulnerable (VU), 14 are Endangered (EN), and 7 are Critically Endangered (CR).
  • Distribution of Reptiles in Kosovo and Metohija Province

    Distribution of Reptiles in Kosovo and Metohija Province

    UNIVERSITY THOUGHT doi:10.5937/univtho8-16981 Publication in Natural Sciences, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2018, pp. 1-6. Original Scientific Paper CONTRIBUTION TO THE HERPETOFAUNA OF SERBIA - DISTRIBUTION OF REPTILES IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA PROVINCE LJILJANA TOMOVIĆ1*, MAGDALENA TIMOTIJEVIĆ2, RASTKO AJTIĆ3, IMRE KRIZMANIĆ1, NENAD LABUS2 1Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia 2Faculty of Science and Mathematics, University of Priština, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia 3Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia ABSTRACT Kosovo and Metohija have already been recognized as regions with the highest diversity of reptiles in Serbia, where 92% (22 of 24) of existing reptile species can be found (Tomović et al., 2015a). First comprehensive contribution to herpetofauna of Kosovo and Metohija was provided by late Professor Gojko Pasuljević. In this study we present a complete dataset of distribution records for 13 most common reptile species in Kosovo and Metohija, including published and new distribution data compiled, and provide standardized 10 x 10 km UTM maps for these data. Results of this study include 1013 distribution records (278 new and 735 published data) for the following reptiles: Testudo hermanni, Ablepharus kitaibelii, Anguis fragilis, Lacerta agilis, Lacerta viridis, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis tauricus, Coronella austriaca, Dolichophis caspius, Natrix natrix, Natrix tessellata, Zamenis longissimus and Vipera ammodytes. The most widely distributed species, which occupy more than 50 UTM 10 x 10 km squares are: Podarcis muralis and Vipera ammodytes. Species with limited distribution which occupy less than 20 UTM 10 x 10 km are: Dolichophis caspius and Lacerta agilis. The largest numbers of new or confirmed literature data are recorded for: Anguis fragilis, Testudo hermanni and Vipera ammodytes.
  • Fauna of Australia 2A

    Fauna of Australia 2A

    FAUNA of AUSTRALIA 26. BIOGEOGRAPHY AND PHYLOGENY OF THE SQUAMATA Mark N. Hutchinson & Stephen C. Donnellan 26. BIOGEOGRAPHY AND PHYLOGENY OF THE SQUAMATA This review summarises the current hypotheses of the origin, antiquity and history of the order Squamata, the dominant living reptile group which comprises the lizards, snakes and worm-lizards. The primary concern here is with the broad relationships and origins of the major taxa rather than with local distributional or phylogenetic patterns within Australia. In our review of the phylogenetic hypotheses, where possible we refer principally to data sets that have been analysed by cladistic methods. Analyses based on anatomical morphological data sets are integrated with the results of karyotypic and biochemical data sets. A persistent theme of this chapter is that for most families there are few cladistically analysed morphological data, and karyotypic or biochemical data sets are limited or unavailable. Biogeographic study, especially historical biogeography, cannot proceed unless both phylogenetic data are available for the taxa and geological data are available for the physical environment. Again, the reader will find that geological data are very uncertain regarding the degree and timing of the isolation of the Australian continent from Asia and Antarctica. In most cases, therefore, conclusions should be regarded very cautiously. The number of squamate families in Australia is low. Five of approximately fifteen lizard families and five or six of eleven snake families occur in the region; amphisbaenians are absent. Opinions vary concerning the actual number of families recognised in the Australian fauna, depending on whether the Pygopodidae are regarded as distinct from the Gekkonidae, and whether sea snakes, Hydrophiidae and Laticaudidae, are recognised as separate from the Elapidae.
  • New Locality Records of Ablepharus Kitaibelii Fitzingeri Mertens, 1952 from the Area Surrounding the River Ipel’, in Slovakia and Adjacent Hungary

    New Locality Records of Ablepharus Kitaibelii Fitzingeri Mertens, 1952 from the Area Surrounding the River Ipel’, in Slovakia and Adjacent Hungary

    North-Western Journal of Zoology Vol. 4, No. 1, 2008, pp.125-128 [Online: Vol.4, 2008: 05] New locality records of Ablepharus kitaibelii fitzingeri Mertens, 1952 from the area surrounding the river Ipel’, in Slovakia and adjacent Hungary Zoltán KORSÓS1, Róbert CSEKÉS2 and Eszter TAKÁCS3 1Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross u. 13, H-1088 Budapest, Hungary, E-mail: [email protected] 2 U mlékárny 290, 353 01 Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic 3Zoological Institute, Szent István University, Rottenbiller u. 50, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary Abstract. During a survey in August, 2006, the Ipoly (Ipel’) River region along the Hungarian-Slovakian border was visited for occurrences of the Pannonian Snake-eyed Skink (Ablepharus kitaibelii fitzingeri Mertens, 1952) at the northernmost border of its range. Populations at four localities were found, two of which (one in Slovakia and one in Hungary) proved to be new without previously known records. Key words: Ablepharus kitaibelii fitzingeri, distribution, new localities, Slovakia, Hungary The Snake-eyed skink, Ablepharus In the framework of a Hungarian kitaibelii (Bibron & Bory, 1833), is the nationwide project on the origin and only representative of the genus in evolution of the selected faunal Europe, and the northernmost elements of the Carpathian Basin, we European member of the lizard family surveyed the appropriate area of the Scincidae. The species’ subspecific subspecies’ (Ablepharus kitaibelii fitzin- composition is still under discussion geri) range along the Slovakian-Hunga- (Fuhn 1970, Ljubisavljevic et al. 2002, rian border, determined mainly by the Schmidtler 1997), although a successful valley of the Ipoly (Ipel’) river and the attempt was already made on its adjacent slopes.