Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Articles
Published: 2010-02-09
Page range: 67–68
Abstract views: 41
PDF downloaded: 1

The untold story on the ecological and phylogenetic complexity of the Uruguayan reptile fauna

Evolutionary & Behavioural Ecology Research Group, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Exeter, EX4 4PS, Devon, United Kingdom
Reptilia Uruguayan reptile fauna

Abstract

Differential regimes of natural selection resulting from environmental complexities are regarded as among the major factors behind processes of evolutionary radiation (Schluter 2000). Therefore, where diverse selective environments converge, diverse organisms in terms of phylogenetic and ecological richness are expected to occur. In some areas of the world, processes of diversification can take the form of geographically widespread evolutionary radiations within the same lineage, as observed for example in the emblematic lizard genus Anolis (Losos 2009). In other areas, in contrast, relatively small territories characterized by rich environmental and ecological complexities allow the existence of similarly complex assemblages formed by several different lineages under tight coexistence. A prominent case of this last scenario, although largely hidden until recently, is the reptile fauna of Uruguay. Located at the subtropical Eastern extreme of South America, Uruguay encloses countless natural elements that inspire the development of an exciting story on the wonderful outcomes of ecological interactions, and ultimately, of evolution. Carreira et al. (2005) have recently taken the challenge to tell part of this natural story. Focusing on the most fundamental outcome of ecological and evolutionary processes, namely biodiversity at different levels, Carreira et al. have come out with the first detailed scientific monograph on the reptiles of Uruguay ever published, and one of the first complete accounts of this ectotherm fauna for the country in almost a century (the only previous complete account is Devincenzi’s 1925).

References

  1. Avila-Pires, T.C.S. (1995) Lizards of Brazilian Amazonia (Reptilia: Squamata). Zoologische Verhandelingen, 299, 1–706.

    Carranza, S. & Arnold, E.N. (2006) Systematics, biogeography, and evolution of Hemidactylus geckos (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) elucidated using mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 38, 531–545.

    Carreira, S., Meneghel, M. & Achaval, F. (2005) Reptiles de Uruguay. Universidad de la Republica, Facultad de Ciencias, Montevideo, 637 pp.

    Cei, J.M. (1986) Reptiles del centro, centro-oeste y sur de la Argentina. Herpetofauna de las zonas áridas y semiáridas. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino, Torino, 527 pp.

    Cei, J.M. (1993) Reptiles del noroeste, nordeste y este de la Argentina. Herpetofauna de las selvas subtropicales, puna y pampas. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino, Torino, 949 pp.

    Devincenzi, G.J. (1925) Fauna erpetologica del Uruguay. Anales del Museo de Historia Natural de Montevideo, Serie 2, 2, 1–65.

    Donoso-Barros, R. (1966) Reptiles de Chile. Ediciones Universidad de Chile, Santiago, 458 pp.

    Frost, D.R., Etheridge, R., Janies, D. & Titus, T.A. (2001) Total evidence, sequence alignment, evolution of Polychrotid lizards, and a reclassification of the Iguania (Squamata: Iguania). American Museum Novitates, 3343, 1–38.

    Losos, J.B. (2009) Lizards in an evolutionary tree. Ecology and adaptive radiation of anoles. University of California Press, California, 507 pp.

    Medem, F. (1983) Los Crocodylia de Sur América, Volumen II. Editoral Carrera, Bogotá, 270 pp.

    Pérez-Santos, C. & Moreno, A.G. (1988) Ofidios de Colombia. Museo Regionale di Scienza Naturali, Monografie VI, Torino, 538 pp.

    Pérez-Santos, C. & Moreno, A.G. (1991) Serpientes de Ecuador. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Monografie XI Torino, 538 pp.

    Pincheira-Donoso, D., Scolaro, J.A. & Sura, P. (2008) A monographic catalogue on the systematics and phylogeny of the South American iguanian lizard family Liolaemidae (Squamata, Iguania). Zootaxa, 1800, 1–85.

    Pritchard, P.C.H. & Trebbau, P. (1984) The turtles of Venezuela. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, 414 pp.

    Schluter, D. (2000) The ecology of adaptive radiation. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 288 pp.