Opening the black box: phylogenetics and morphological evolution of the Malagasy fossorial lizards of the subfamily “Scincinae”

Schmitz, Andreas; Brandley, Matthew C.; Mausfeld, Patrick; Vences, Miguel; Glaw, Frank; Nussbaum, Ronald A.; Reeder, Tod W.

doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.08.016

Cited by 54 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The 12S and 16S rRNA markers were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers and conditions described previously (Mariaux & Tilbury 2006;Palumbi et al 1991). The ND1 gene including the 5' and 3' flanking regions was amplified with the 16dR and TMet primers described by Schmitz et al (2005) and using a PCR kit containing premixed reaction reagents (Illustra, Puretaq Ready-To-Go PCR Beads, GE Healthcare, NJ, U.S.A.). The following touchdown PCR conditions were used: initial denaturation at 94°C for 3 min followed by six cycles of denaturation at 94°C for 1 min, annealing at 58°C to 53°C for 30 sec (i.e, decreasing annealing temperature by 1°C for each successive cycle), and extension at 72°C for 1 min 15 sec; 30 cycles of denaturation at 94°C for 1 min, annealing at 52°C for 30 sec, and extension at 72°C for 1 min 15 sec; and a final extension at 72°C for 5 min.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The “Rhampholeon uluguruensis complex” (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae) and the taxonomic status of the pygmy chameleons in Tanzania

Fisseha

Mariaux

Menegon

2013

Zootaxa

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The specific status of several pygmy chameleons endemic to mountain massifs in the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania has long been controversial due to their lack of distinctive morphological characters. In this work we extend our previous sampling of Rieppeleon and Rhampholeon species, especially from the Rhampoleon moyeri/Rhampholeon uluguruensis complex, and add data from a new mitochondrial marker to address this problem. Our results show that there is geographical structure between populations of pygmy chameleons from different mountains. This structure is especially well defined for Rhampholeon (Rhinodigitum). Phylogenetic analyses confirm that both Rh. uluguruensis Tilbury and Emmrich, 1995 and Rh. moyeri Menegon, Salvidio and Tilbury, 2002 are distinct lineages, the former from the Uluguru Mountains and the latter from the Udzungwa Mountains. However, the paratype material used to erect Rh. moyeri belongs to a separate lineage from the holotype. Similarly, a number of additional lineages within the Rh. moyeri/Rh. uluguruensis complex recovered in the analysis may deserve specific status. At present, there is a lack of morphological characters that can be used to distinguish these lineages, suggesting that there are multiple cryptic taxa in this complex.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The “Rhampholeon uluguruensis complex” (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae) and the taxonomic status of the pygmy chameleons in Tanzania

Fisseha

Mariaux

Menegon

2013

Zootaxa

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“…According to Brandley et al [2005], the difficulty in inferring the skink phylogeny based on morphology is probably due to the highly convergent evolution of limb reduction. However, more recent molecular contributions to the skinks taxonomy also appeared ambiguous, and relationships among the main groups are still unresolved or contradictory [see Whiting et al, 2003;Brandley et al, 2005;Schmitz et al, 2005;Austin and Arnold, 2006;Wiens et al, 2006]. On the other hand, some molecular data have confirmed the monophyly of Scincidae and, in concordance with palaeontological data, revealed an ancient origin for these lizards ( 1 90 mya) [Wiens et al, 2006].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) Have Highly Conserved Karyotypes as Revealed by Chromosome Painting

Giovannotti

Caputo²,

O’Brien³

et al. 2009

Cytogenet Genome Res

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Skinks represent the most diversified squamate reptiles with a great variation in body size and form, and are found worldwide in a variety of habitats. Their remarkable diversification has been accompanied by only a few chromosome rearrangements, resulting in highly-conservative chromosomal complements of these lizards. In this study cross-species chromosome painting using Scincus scincus (2n = 32) as the source genome, was used to detect the chromosomal rearrangements and homologies between the following skinks: Chalcides chalcides (2n = 28), C. ocellatus (2n = 28), Eumeces schneideri (2n = 32), Lepidothyris fernandi (2n = 30), Mabuya quinquetaeniata (2n = 32). The results of this study confirmed a high degree of chromosome conservation between these species. The main rearrangements in the studied skinks involve chromosomes 3, 5, 6 and 7 of S. scincus. These subtelocentric chromosomes are homologous to the p and q arms of metacentric pair 3 and 4 in C. chalcides, C. ocellatus, L. fernandi, and M. quinquetaeniata, while they are entirely conserved in E. schneideri. Other rearrangements involve S. scincus 11 in L. fernandi and M. quinquetaeniata, supporting the monophyly of Lygosominae, and one of the chromosomes S. scincus 12–16, in M. quinquetaeniata. In conclusion, our data support the monophyly of Scincidae and confirm that Scincus-Eumeces plus Chalcides do not form a monophyletic clade, suggesting that the Scincus-Eumeces clade is basal to other members of this family. This study represents the first time the whole genome of any reptile species has been used for cross-species chromosome painting to assess chromosomal evolution in this group of vertebrates.

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“…The definition of the genus Madascincus herein follows previous molecular work (Schmitz et al 2005, Crottini et al 2009, Miralles et al 2011c, Miralles and Vences 2013, encompassing all species of an exclusively four-legged clade that is sister to the legless genus Paracontias. The term "Madascincus nanus complex" designates a putative complex of species encompassing M. nanus, M. macrolepis and a candidate species previously referred as Madascincus sp.…”

Section: Mouroundavaementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scelotes igneocaudatus - Blanc (1967), Brygoo (1981, partim); Amphiglossus igneocaudatus -Brygoo (1984, partim), Whiting et al (2004), Schmitz et al (2005);…”

Section: Chresonymsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species delimitation methods put into taxonomic practice: two new Madascincus species formerly allocated to historical species names (Squamata, Scincidae)

Miralles¹,

Köhler²,

Glaw³

et al. 2016

ZSE

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In a previous study, Miralles & Vences (2013) compared seven different methods of species delimitation applied to the genus Madascincus. While focusing on methodological aspects their study involved an extensive data set of multilocus DNA sequences and of comparative morphology. On this basis they emphasized the need of revising the taxonomy of Madascincus, and revealed the existence of at least two well-supported candidate species. The present paper provides formal descriptions of these two taxa: (1) M. miafina sp. n., a species from dry areas of northern Madagascar, morphologically very similar to M. polleni (although both species are not retrieved as sister taxa), and (2) M. pyrurus sp. n., a montane species occurring >1500 m above sea level, endemic to the central highlands of Madagascar (Ibity and Itremo Massifs). Phylogenetically, M. pyrurus is the sister species of M. igneocaudatus, a taxon restricted to the dry littoral regions of the south and south-west of Madagascar in lowlands <500 m above sea level. To facilitate future taxonomic work, we furthermore elaborated an identification key for species of Madascincus. Finally, some aspects of the biogeographic patterns characterising the different main clades within the genus Madascincus are provided and discussed for the first time in the light of a robust phylogenetic framework. Key WordsMadascincus miafina sp. n. Madascincus pyrurus sp. n. Madagascar phylogeny morphology integrative taxonomy species complex biogeography

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Opening the black box: phylogenetics and morphological evolution of the Malagasy fossorial lizards of the subfamily “Scincinae”

Cited by 54 publications

References 43 publications

<strong>The “<em>Rhampholeon</em> <em>uluguruensis</em> complex” (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae) and the taxonomic status of the pygmy chameleons in Tanzania</strong>

<strong>The “<em>Rhampholeon</em> <em>uluguruensis</em> complex” (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae) and the taxonomic status of the pygmy chameleons in Tanzania</strong>

Skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) Have Highly Conserved Karyotypes as Revealed by Chromosome Painting

Species delimitation methods put into taxonomic practice: two new Madascincus species formerly allocated to historical species names (Squamata, Scincidae)

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