Comparative hemipenial morphology of Bothrops alternatus group of pitvipers (Serpentes: Viperidae)

MARTAO, L.R, CARRASCO, P., FRANCO, F.L. & FERRAREZI, H.

Sao Paulo, Brasil

Congreso; VII Reunion Cientifica Anual; 2005

Instituto Butantan

Comparative hemipenial morphology of Bothrops alternatus group of pitvipers (Serpentes: Viperidae). The monophyly of the Saouth American pitvipers of the Bothrops alternatus species group, comprising B. alternatus, B. fonsecai, B.cotiara, B. itapetiningae, B. jonathani and B. ammodytoides, has been suggested by independent sets of morphological and molecular data. However, the phylogenetic relationships among its components are not fully understood, and some incongruencies exist between results derived from each particular approach. The present study provides additional evidence to test both groups monophyly and the phylogenetic interrelationships among its components based on the comparative anatomy of the hemipenes of all included species in comparison with other assemblages of Bothrops. Preliminary hypothesis phylogenetics relationships is presented for the group based on a parsimony analysis of morphological data. Our results are compared in terms of taxonomic congruences with alternative tree topologies obtained from recent cladistic analysis of nucleotide sequences. The understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of the alternatus species group is not only important for systematic purposes but also essential to de comprehension of its historical biogeography