Biogeography of the Lizard Genus Tropidurus Wied-Neuwied, 1825 (Squamata: Tropiduridae): Distribution, Endemism, and Area Relationships in South America

Abstract

Based on comprehensive distributional records of the 23 species currently assigned to the lizard genus Tropidurus, we investigated patterns of endemism and area relationships in South America. Two biogeographic methods were applied, Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) and Brooks Parsimony Analysis (BPA). Two areas of endemism were detected by PAE: the first within the domains of the semiarid Brazilian Caatinga, which includes seven endemic species, and the second in the region of the Serranía de Huanchaca, eastern Bolivia, in which three endemic species are present. The area cladograms recovered a close relationship between the Atlantic Forest and areas of the South American open corridor. The results revealed a close relationship among the provinces Caatinga (Cerrado, Parana Forest (Pantanal+Chaco)). The uplift of the Brazilian Central Plateau in the Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene (4-2 Myr BP) has been interpreted as a major event responsible for isolation and differentiation of biotas along these areas. However, we emphasize that without the establishment of a temporal framework concerning the diversification history of Tropidurus it is premature to correlate cladogenetic events with specific time periods or putative vicariant scenarios. The limiting factors hampering the understanding of the biogeographic history of this genus include (1) the absence of temporal references in relation to the diversification of distinct clades within Tropidurus; (2) the lack of an appropriate taxonomic resolution of the species complexes currently represented by widely distributed forms; and (3) the need for a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis. We suggest that these three important aspects should be prioritized in future investigations.

A NewTropidurus(Tropiduridae) from the Semiarid Brazilian Caatinga: Evidence for Conflicting Signal between Mitochondrial and Nuclear Loci Affecting the Phylogenetic Reconstruction of South American Collared Lizards

“…sp., are unknown, the data currently available allow us to recommend its classification only as "data deficient" according to the criteria proposed by IUCN (2001). In addition to confirming the unique identity of the Caatinga herpetofauna Carvalho et al, 2013;Guedes et al, 2014), the discovery of T. sertanejo, n. sp., calls attention to the need of extensive mapping of lizard populations within the biome.…”

“…However, the numerous field observations and large number of specimens in scientific collections hardly translate into a complete understanding of its phylogenetic relationships, taxonomic diversity, biogeography, and evolutionary history (Carvalho, 2013;Carvalho et al, 2013). The monophyly and internal relationships in Tropidurus were not rigorously established until Frost et al (2001) employed molecular (mtDNA) and morphological characters-combining novel data with those from Frost (1992) and Harvey and Gutberlet (2000)-to build a comprehensive phylogeny.…”

“…The monophyly and internal relationships in Tropidurus were not rigorously established until Frost et al (2001) employed molecular (mtDNA) and morphological characters-combining novel data with those from Frost (1992) and Harvey and Gutberlet (2000)-to build a comprehensive phylogeny. That study placed Uranoscodon as the sister taxon of all other tropidurines; recovered Plica, Uracentron, and Strobilurus as the sister clade of Tropidurus; erected a new genus Eurolophosaurus for the former Tropidurus nanuzae group; and restricted Tropidurus to a monophyletic group that predominantly occupies the open-dry South American diagonal, Amazonian savanna enclaves, and large area of the Brazilian Atlantic coast (Rodrigues, 1987(Rodrigues, , 1988Frost et al, 2001;Ávila-Pires, 1995;Harvey and Gutberlet, 1998;Carvalho, 2013;Carvalho et al, 2013).…”

Supplemental Material for 'A new collared lizard (Tropidurus, Tropiduridae) endemic to the western Bolivian Andes and its implications for seasonally dry tropical forests. (American Museum novitates, no. 3896)'

“…B, Area cladogram summarizing area relationships patterns supported by the phylogeny of the Tropidurus etheridgei species complex. 12B), adds more complexity to the vicariance scenario proposed by Carvalho et al (2013), where the uplift of the Brazilian Central Plateau in the Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene (4-2 Ma) was hypothesized to have promoted geographic isolation and subsequent differentiation of distinct biotas in areas covered by the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Chaco. This earlier hypothesis disregarded the limits and independent history of the Atlantic Dry Forests and other seasonally dry tropical forests, and, consequently, failed to effectively address the biogeographic history of dry areas of South America.…”

Extreme specialization to rocky habitats in Tropidurus lizards from Brazil: Trade‐offs between a fitted ecomorph and autoecology in a harsh environment

“…Tropidurus semitaeniatus and T. helenae are specialized to rocky habitats (Passos et al 2011). Tropidurus hispidus is a robust, generalist species, widely distributed in South America across different habitats (de Carvalho et al 2013). Tropidurus hispidus is a robust, generalist species, widely distributed in South America across different habitats (de Carvalho et al 2013).…”