Morphological and molecular analyses of mountain centipede snake (Serpentes: Tantilla) reveal a new species from Venezuelan Andes
Academia Biology,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
3(1)
Опубликована: Март 14, 2025
The
highest
elevations
of
the
Tropical
Andes
form
an
archipelago
sky
islands,
where
herpetological
diversity
is
actively
evolving.
In
this
study,
we
combined
morphological
and
molecular
data
to
discover
describe
a
new
snake
species
colubrid
genus
Tantilla
from
middle-upper
basin
Boconó
River
on
lacustrine
slope
Cordillera
de
Mérida.
This
belongs
melanocephala
phenotypic
group.
Our
results
align
with
previously
published
data,
indicating
that
Andean
populations
diverged
lowland
ancestral
lineage
originating
Guiana
Shield
northern
Brazil
during
Miocene
(~8
million
years
ago
[Myr]).
Morphologically,
distinguished
other
members
by
its
three
longitudinal
black
stripes,
presence
two
pale
spots
parietals
instead
nuchal
band,
noncontacting
prefrontal
supralabial
scales,
first
pair
infralabial
scales
typically
separated
(rarely
in
contact),
138–145
ventral
males,
<60
subcaudal
12
maxillary
teeth
moderate
diastema
anterior
process
bone,
unilobed,
unicalyculate,
noncapitated
hemipenis.
We
discuss
validity
certain
available
names
zoogeographic
patterns
northernmost
distribution.
Furthermore,
our
study
provides
evidence
suggesting
richness
may
be
underestimated
mountainous
regions
South
America,
allopatric
speciation
driven
topographic
complexity
niche
conservatism
has
likely
played
crucial
role
genotypic
divergence
centipede
populations.
Язык: Английский
Taxonomic status and sexual dimorphism of the brown forest skink, Scincella cherriei stuarti (Smith 1941) (Squamata: Scincidae)
Zootaxa,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
5601(1), С. 109 - 126
Опубликована: Март 5, 2025
We
analyzed
the
molecular
and
morphological
variation
of
scincid
lizard
Scincella
cherriei
stuarti
in
order
to
reassess
its
taxonomic
status.
Our
phylogenetic
analyses
recovered
as
a
strongly
supported
monophyletic
group.
Furthermore,
our
analysis
we
found
sexual
dimorphism
color
pattern
limb
size
S.
cherrei
stuarti,
combination
that
was
previously
undocumented
for
entire
genus.
Owing
suite
diagnosable
external
characters
monophyly,
suggest
elevating
species
level.
offer
redescription
taxon
accommodate
noted
dimorphism,
also
update
geographic
distribution.
Язык: Английский
Bridging the gap: A new species of arboreal Abronia (Squamata: Anguidae) from the Northern Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico
PLoS ONE,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
19(1), С. e0295230 - e0295230
Опубликована: Янв. 3, 2024
The
mountain
forests
of
Middle
America
are
renowned
for
their
endemic
biodiversity,
and
arboreal
alligator
lizards
(genus
Abronia
)
high-profile
vertebrates
to
this
region.
In
work,
we
describe
a
new
species
that
is
known
only
from
the
type
locality
in
Northern
Highlands
Chiapas,
Mexico.
diagnosed
all
other
members
genus
by
following
combination
characters:
lack
protuberant
or
spine-like
supra-auricular
scales,
casque-like
posterolateral
head
dorsum
pale
yellow
with
distinct
dark
markings,
35–39
transverse
dorsal
scale
rows,
lateralmost
row
ventral
scales
enlarged
relative
adjacent
medial
row,
brown
darker
crossbands
sometimes
reduced
rows
spots.
We
provisionally
include
subgenus
Lissabronia
based
on
genomic
morphological
evidence,
but
our
results
also
suggest
close
relationship
Abaculabronia
.
geographically
separated
nearest
lowland
Central
Depression
Chiapas.
Ongoing
habitat
loss
factors
imperil
species,
leading
us
propose
its
listing
under
multiple
threatened
frameworks.
Because
have
poor
coverage
protected
areas,
briefly
comment
potential
stimulating
conservation
Язык: Английский
Phylotranscriptomic and ecological analyses reveal the evolution and morphological adaptation of Abies
Journal of Integrative Plant Biology,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
66(12), С. 2664 - 2682
Опубликована: Авг. 16, 2024
Coniferous
forests
are
under
severe
threat
of
the
rapid
anthropogenic
climate
warming.
Abies
(firs),
fourth-largest
conifer
genus,
is
a
keystone
component
boreal
and
temperate
dark-coniferous
harbors
remarkably
large
number
relict
taxa.
However,
uncertainty
phylogenetic
biogeographic
history
significantly
impedes
our
prediction
future
dynamics
efficient
conservation
firs.
In
this
study,
using
1,533
nuclear
genes
generated
from
transcriptome
sequencing
complete
sampling
all
widely
recognized
species,
we
have
successfully
reconstructed
robust
phylogeny
global
firs,
in
which
four
clades
strongly
supported
intersectional
relationships
resolved,
although
discordance
caused
mainly
by
incomplete
lineage
sorting
hybridization
was
detected.
Molecular
dating
ancestral
area
reconstruction
suggest
Northern
Hemisphere
high-latitude
origin
during
Late
Cretaceous,
but
extant
firs
diversified
Miocene
to
Pleistocene,
multiple
continental
intercontinental
dispersals
took
place
response
late
Neogene
cooling
orogenic
movements.
Notably,
critically
endangered
endemic
subtropical
mountains
China,
including
A.
beshanzuensis,
ziyuanensis,
fanjingshanensis
yuanbaoshanensis
east
west,
different
origins
evolutionary
histories.
Moreover,
three
hotspots
species
richness,
western
North
America,
central
Japan,
Hengduan
Mountains,
were
identified
Abies.
Elevation
precipitation,
particularly
precipitation
coldest
quarter,
most
significant
environmental
factors
driving
distribution
pattern
fir
diversity.
Some
morphological
traits
evolutionarily
constrained,
those
linked
elevational
variation
(e.g.,
purple
cone)
cold
resistance
pubescent
branch
resinous
bud)
may
contributed
diversification
Our
study
sheds
new
light
on
spatiotemporal
evolution
will
be
great
help
forest
management
warming
world.
Язык: Английский
Sixty years of Halffter’s Mexican Transition Zone: a systematic review using bibliometric tools
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
94, С. e945114 - e945114
Опубликована: Май 24, 2023
The
Mexican
Transition
Zone
(MTZ)
has
become
a
key
concept
that
promoted
the
consolidation
of
an
integrative
field
research.
We
reviewed
scientific
publications
on
MTZ
with
bibliometric
tools
to
detect
trends
through
time
and
analyze
conceptual
structure
historiographic
citation.
also
performed
content
analysis
considering
conceptualization
MTZ,
application
Halffter’s
patterns
distribution,
different
disciplines
where
term
been
used.
number
per
year
not
constant,
but
since
2012
there
general
increase,
becoming
frequently
cited
in
papers
some
cases
constituting
research
topic.
identified
divergences
discussed
implications
for
biogeographic
studies.
inspired
other
authors
produce
focused
this
area
set
hypotheses
redefine
make
it
applicable
its
incorporation
biogeographical
regionalization
Americas.
Язык: Английский
Historical biogeography of the genusRhadinaea(Squamata: Dipsadinae)
Ecology and Evolution,
Год журнала:
2021,
Номер
11(18), С. 12413 - 12428
Опубликована: Авг. 5, 2021
Abstract
Multiple
geological
and
climatic
events
have
created
geographical
or
ecological
barriers
associated
with
speciation
events,
playing
a
role
in
biological
diversification
North
Central
America.
Here,
we
evaluate
the
influence
of
Neogene
Quaternary
as
well
changes
colubrid
snake
genus
Rhadinaea
using
molecular
dating
ancestral
area
reconstruction.
A
multilocus
sequence
dataset
was
generated
for
37
individuals
from
most
biogeographical
provinces
where
is
distributed,
representing
19
21
currently
recognized
species,
two
undescribed
species.
Our
analyses
show
that
majority
species
nest
main
clades,
herein
identified
“Eastern”
“Southern”.
These
clades
probably
diverged
each
other
early
Miocene,
their
divergence
followed
by
11
divergences
during
middle
to
late
three
Pliocene,
six
Pleistocene.
The
distribution
reconstructed
across
Sierra
Madre
del
Sur.
phylogenetic
do
not
support
monophyly
.
Miocene
Pliocene
geomorphology,
perhaps
conjunction
climate
change,
appears
triggered
genus,
while
induced
analysis
suggests
uplifting
Trans‐Mexican
Volcanic
Belt
Chiapan–Guatemalan
highlands
this
same
period
resulted
northward
southward
colonization
events.
This
more
recent,
independent
Pleistocene
involving
Balsas
Basin,
Chihuahuan
Desert,
Pacific
Coast,
Occidental,
Oriental,
Sur,
Belt,
Veracruz
provinces,
driven
fluctuations
time.
Язык: Английский