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Issue: Vol. 2277 No. 1: 30 Oct. 2009
Type: Articles
Published: 2009-10-30
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2277.1.2
Page range: 14–32
Abstract views: 98
PDF downloaded: 10

Molecular phylogeny of Australian Gehyra (Squamata: Gekkonidae) and taxonomic revision of Gehyra variegata in south-eastern Australia

South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
Dept of Genetic Medicine, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide SA 500x, and School of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide SA 5005, Australia Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
Reptilia Lizards speciation Australia phylogeny taxonomy mitochondrial DNA

Abstract

We provide the first phylogenetic hypothesis for the Australian species of the gekkonid genus Gehyra, based on 1044bp of the mitochondrial ND2 gene. Species representing the Asian, Melanesian and Australian radiations are resolved as separate clades, indicating relative isolation and independence of each of these evolutionary lines. Within the Australian radiation, the arid zone species form a monophyletic subgroup distinct from the remaining species found in tropical and warm mesic habitats. Extensive chromosome variation and highly variable external morphology have made species recognition difficult within Gehyra, exacerbated by the likely presence of numerous undescribed cryptic species. Three species of Gehyra are currently recognized in the southeastern inland of Australia, G. variegata, G. montium and G. purpurascens. We re-describe a fourth species, G. lazelli, to include those populations long referred to informally as the 2n=44 chromosome ‘race’ of Gehyra variegata. Gehyra lazelli widely overlaps the distribution of G. variegata in South Australia and the southern inland of New South Wales, with no suggestion of intergradation in morphology, mitochondrial DNA, allozyme variation or karyotype.

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