Morphological and genetic divergence within the Phymaturus payuniae Clade (Iguania: Liolaemidae): Description of Two New Species

F. LOBO; D. BARRASSO; T. HIBBARD; M. QUIPILDOR; D. SLODKI; S. VALDECANTOS; N. BASSO

South American Journal of Herpetology

Sociedade Braisleira de Herpetologia

Lugar: Sao Paulo; Año: 2021 vol. 20 p. 42 - 66

1808-9798

western Argentina. All recognized species are found in an endemism area called ?Payunia?. Recent studies using 21 morphological data and DNA markers found that the payuniae clade is formed by at least ten terminal taxa. In the 22 present study, we revisited the morphology of all previously considered terminals and analyzed two new 23 populations discovered in Neuquén province between 2005 and 2016. The revised character list allowed to score 24 morphological characters for several taxa whose morphologies were unknown until this study. In the present 25 study we sequenced ND4 for three terminals (completing other sequences available for these taxa), and Cytb, 26 COI, 12S, and Cmos for one terminal (for which no DNA data had been reported yet). We then added these 27 sequences to the pre-existing DNA data bases of the genus. We estimated genetic distances for three 28 mitochondrial markers among all members of the clade and calculated the evolutionary lability of morphological 29 characters for the whole patagonicus group. Variation of 26 continuous characters was analyzed with PCA for all 30 members of the payuniae clade and species of other clades of the patagonicus and palluma group. Additionally, 31 we revised genital characters for all members of the group and included a description of the new taxa?s 32 hemipenial morphology. Considering the distribution of morphological characters among species, their genetic 33 distances, different genital morphology and the phylogenetic structure inferred, we are able to support the 34 taxonomic status of all species of the group and add the formal description of two new members.