On the evolution and diversification of an Andean clade of reptiles: combining morphology and DNA sequences of thepallumagroup (Liolaemidae:Phymaturus)

Abstract

Phymaturus comprises 44 species mainly distributed along the south‐west of South America on both sides of the Andes. In this study we present a phylogenetic analysis of Phymaturus of the palluma group, one of its two large clades, including almost all described species. This analysis duplicates the number of in‐group taxa compared with previous contributions. We performed a total‐evidence analysis, combining molecular and morphological characters: sequencing fragments of cytochome b (cytb), 12S, and ND4, for all terminals; describing 45 new morphological characters; and incorporating all DNA sequences available from GenBank. Separate analyses of morphology and DNA partitions are presented and discussed in detail. Seven subclades are recognized here. We named three new subclades and redefined another, found to be paraphyletic. In order to recognize lineages within the traditional Phymaturus palluma group we proposed to treat it as a natural group, containing within it the ranks of clade, subclade, and lineages, respectively. The palluma group is composed by the vociferator and the bibronii clades. The vociferator clade, composed of Chilean and Argentinean species, would be the most basal in the group. Within the bibronii clade, the roigorum subclade includes the Phymaturus verdugo lineage, whereas the mallimaccii subclade would consist of 13 terminal taxa, for which three Chilean species have been added. In this study, morphological apomorphies are identified for all clades and the evolution of ‘male head melanism’ is discussed. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London

Phylogenetic relationships within a patagonian clade of reptiles (Liolaemidae:Phymaturus) based on DNA sequences and morphology

“…Cryptic diversity within Phymaturus is not uncommon, as was revealed recently in Morando et al. () and Lobo, Barrasso, Hibbard, and Basso (), also this phenomenon occurs in its sister genus Liolaemus (see for example studies of Torres‐Pérez et al., ; Medina, Avila, Sites, & Morando, ). In a recent study, González‐Marín, Morando, & Avila (), studied the species of the calcogaster clade ( P. yachanana , P. camilae , P. calcogaster , and P. patagonicus ) using linear and geometric analysis, and presented results that confirm their specific status as they were originally described based on traditional morphology.…”

How mountains shape biodiversity: The role of the Andes in biogeography, diversification, and reproductive biology in South America's most species‐rich lizard radiation (Squamata: Liolaemidae)

“…Initially, we compiled available sequences from GenBank for four mitochondrial and six nuclear loci from previous published studies on Liolaemidae (Schulte et al 2000;Morando et al 2003;Espinoza et al 2004;Morando et al 2004Morando et al , 2007Avila et al 2007;Victoriano et al 2008;Torres-Pérez et al 2009;Breitman et al 2011Breitman et al , 2012Avila et al 2012;Camargo et al 2012a;Camargo et al 2012b;Fontanella et al 2012a;Fontanella et al 2012b;Vera-Escalona et al 2012;Aguilar et al 2013;Avila et al 2013;Cianferoni et al 2013;Morando et al 2013;Esquerré et al 2014;Olave et al 2014;Avila et al 2015;Breitman et al 2015;Lobo et al 2015;Aguilar et al 2016). We targeted mitochondrial genes cytb, 12S, ND2, and ND4 and nuclear loci B1D, EXPH5, KIF24, MXRA5, PLRL, and PNN.…”

Phymaturus vociferator Pincheira-Donoso, 2004 (Squamata: Liolaemidae): new records and updated geographic distribution

“…3), P. vociferator was observed in volcanic outcrops (Termas de Chillán and road to Aguas Calientes) or Andean vegas (Shangri-la) in sympatry with the lizard Liolaemus chillanensis Müller & Hellmich, 1932 and the snake Tachymenis chilensis (Schlegel, 1837). Some studies have reported the presence of Phymaturus lizards from Termas de Chillán without a formal assignation of species (Lobo & Quinteros 2005b, Eisenberg & Werning 2012, Lobo et al 2016. Lobo & Quinteros (2005b) suggested that this population may correspond to an undescribed species without major conclusions on its identity in a recent taxonomic review of the P. palluma group (Lobo et al 2016) and Eisenberg & Werning (2012) named this population as Phymaturus cf.…”

“…Some studies have reported the presence of Phymaturus lizards from Termas de Chillán without a formal assignation of species (Lobo & Quinteros 2005b, Eisenberg & Werning 2012, Lobo et al 2016. Lobo & Quinteros (2005b) suggested that this population may correspond to an undescribed species without major conclusions on its identity in a recent taxonomic review of the P. palluma group (Lobo et al 2016) and Eisenberg & Werning (2012) named this population as Phymaturus cf. palluma in a report on the reproduction and biology of these specimens in captivity.…”

“…Phymaturus is a genus of viviparous and herbivorous lizards that currently contains 46 species, distributed in the highlands of Chile and Argentina, and Argentine Patagonia, and revealing the high species diversity (Lobo & Quinteros 2005a, Morando et al 2013, Lobo et al 2016, Uetz & Hošek 2017. In Chile, the distributional ranges of the 7 recognized Phymaturus species are scarcely known, possibly due to a lack of adequate sampling in difficult accessible localities of the Andean highlands.…”