Eight in one: Morphological and molecular analyses reveal cryptic diversity in Amazonian alopoglossid lizards (Squamata: Gymnophthalmoidea)

  • Marco Antonio Ribeiro*
  • , Erik Choueri
  • , Simon Lobos
  • , Pablo Venegas
  • , Omar Torres-Carvajal
  • , Fernanda Werneck
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Among the currently recognized species of Alopoglossus, the Amazonian Alopoglossus angulatus has the widest distribution. We here analyse variation in scutellation and morphometrics of A. angulatus by examining 785 specimens of Alopoglossus. We also analyse intra- and interspecific genetic structure and differentiation using two mitochondrial (Cytb and ND4) and two nuclear (SNCAIP and PRLR) genes from 97 samples. Both morphological and molecular analyses are based on specimens and samples from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru and Suriname. Our results reveal A. angulatus as a monophyletic group composed of eight independently evolved lineages: A. angulatus s.s. plus three revalidated species plus two newly described species plus two putative species. We provide descriptions of all taxa, except for the putative species, including the first description of the neotype of A. angulatus and redescriptions of resurrected junior synonyms. Illustrations, diagnoses and geographical distribution maps are provided. Gene and species trees are also provided. The two new taxa recognized in this paper, along with the revalidation of three taxa, increase the total number of known species of Alopoglossus from nine to 14.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)227-270
Number of pages44
JournalZoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Volume190
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Sep 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Linnean Society of London,

Funding

We are grateful to the following curators and personnel from museums who granted access to specimens under their care: D. Frost, D. Kizirian (American Museum of Natural History), J. Losos (Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology), R. Heyer, K. Tighe (Smithsonian Institution), H. Zaher, C. Castro-Mello (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo), G. Colli, I. Arantes (Universidade de Brasília), R. Vogt, A. Silva, V. Carvalho, R. Fraga, A. Lima (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia), T. Ávila-Pires, A. Prudente, F. Sarmento (Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi), S. Morato, J. Moura-Leite (Museu de História Natural do Capão da Imbuia), M. Menin (Universidade Federal do Amazonas), J. D. Lima and J. R. Lima (Instituto de Pesquisas Científicas e Tecnológicas do Estado do Amapá); and to curators and personnel from museums who helped with photographs of holotypes and neotype: G. Schneider, D. Barroso (A. amazonius; University of Michigan), J. Martinez (A. andeanus; Harvard University), E. Dondorp (A. angulatus; Naturalis Biodiversity Center), A. Dourado (A. avilapiresae; Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia), N. Gilmore (A. carinicaudatus; Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University), C. Silva Moraes (A. collii; Universidade de Brasília) and A. Motta Vieira (A. atriventris; Kansas University). We thank A. Prudente (Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi), A. Fouquet (Centre Nacional de la Recherche Scientifique, Guyane), B. P. Noonan (University of Mississippi), C. C. Ribas (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia), F. Curcio, C. Strussmann (Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso), G. Colli (Universidade de Brasília), I. Farias, T. Hrbek (Universidade Federal do Amazonas) and R. Ernst (Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung) for providing tissue samples for this study. We also thank D. Pantoja, S. Mângia, S. Souza, M. de Freitas, T. Doan and G. Colli for sending photographs of living specimens; M. Silva for confirming the identification of MPEG 21951 from Espigão do Oeste and for sending photographs of specimens housed in MPEG; G. Sinaiko for helping us with statistical analyses and T. Ávila-Pires for contributing with the logistic support in Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. This work was supported by Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [CT-INFRA/GEOMA 61/2009], the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [CNPq 475559/2013-4; 305535/2017-0], the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas [FAPEAM 062.00665/2015 and 062.01110/2017], the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research from the US National Academy of Sciences and US Agency of International Development [PEER NAS/USAIDAIDOAA-A-11-00012], the L’Oréal-UNESCO-ABC Brasil and L’Oréal-UNESCO IRT For Women In Science Programs, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-CNPq [163885/2013-3], the Secretaría de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (SENESCYT) under the ‘Arca de Noé’ Initiative, the Gans Collections and Charitable Fund Inc. [grant], the Rector scholarship (Tel Aviv University; M.A.R.-J. postdoctoral fellowship) and the Alexander and Eva Lester Fund scholarship (I. Meier Segals Garden for Zoological Research; M.A.R.-J. postdoctoral fellowship). We thank the editor and the anonymous reviewer for their valuable contributions to the improvement of the manuscript.

FundersFunder number
Senckenberg Gesellschaft für NaturforschungMPEG 21951
United States Agency for International DevelopmentPEER NAS/USAIDAIDOAA-A-11-00012
National Academy of Sciences
American Museum of Natural History
University of Mississippi
Harvard University
University of Kansas
Universidade de Brasília
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico163885/2013-3, 475559/2013-4, CT-INFRA/GEOMA 61/2009, 305535/2017-0
Tel Aviv University
062.00665/2015, 062.01110/2017
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia
Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia
Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul

    Keywords

    • Cryptic species
    • Molecular phylogeny
    • New taxa
    • Reptilia
    • South America
    • Species redescription
    • Taxonomic revision
    • Tropical

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Eight in one: Morphological and molecular analyses reveal cryptic diversity in Amazonian alopoglossid lizards (Squamata: Gymnophthalmoidea)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this