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

LOBO, F.; D. BARRASSO; T. HIBBARD & N. BASSO

ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016 p. 648 - 673

0024-4082

Phymaturus comprises 44 species mainly distributed along the south-west of South America on both sides of theAndes. In this study we present a phylogenetic analysis of Phymaturus of the palluma group, one of its two largeclades, including almost all described species. This analysis duplicates the number of in-group taxa compared withprevious 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 morphologicalcharacters; and incorporating all DNA sequences available from GenBank. Separate analyses of morphologyand DNA partitions are presented and discussed in detail. Seven subclades are recognized here. We named threenew subclades and redefined another, found to be paraphyletic. In order to recognize lineages within the traditionalPhymaturus palluma group we proposed to treat it as a natural group, containing within it the ranks ofclade, subclade, and lineages, respectively. The palluma group is composed by the vociferator and the bibroniiclades. 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 mallimacciisubclade would consist of 13 terminal taxa, for which three Chilean species have been added. In this study, morphologicalapomorphies are identified for all clades and the evolution of ?male head melanism? is discussed.