High genetic differentiation within the Hemidactylus turcicus complex (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) in the Levant, with comments on the phylogeny and systematics of the genus (original) (raw)
Related papers
Zootaxa, 2011
The molecular phylogeny of Hemidactylus turcicus (sensu lato) and related Levantine taxa of Hemidactylus geckos were studied using mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Five main phylogenetic lineages were detected within the distribution area of H. turcicus: (1) H. turcicus (sensu stricto) from the Mediterranean region comprising two widely distributed haplotype groups divergent by 2.1%; (2) H. cf. turcicus from northeastern Israel forming a divergent (7.2%) sister lineage to H. turcicus s.s.; (3) H. turcicus lavadeserticus from the black Syrian basalt desert; (4) H. mindiae from southern Jordan; and (5) a highly supported lineage representing an unnamed species of Hemidactylus distributed in southern Syria and Jordan. On the basis of the obtained phylogenies, genetic divergences and morphological comparisons, the subspecies H. turcicus lavadeserticus is elevated to full species level and the unnamed Hemidactylus clade is described as a new species, H. dawudazraqi sp. n. In addition, an unnamed lineage of Hemidactylus from southern Sinai and exceptional genetic differentiation within "H. turcicus-like" forms from Yemen are reported, the type locality of H. turcicus is discussed and also comments are provided on the phylogeny and systematics of the genus Hemidactylus.
PLoS ONE, 2013
The geological history of the Arabian Peninsula has played a crucial role in shaping current diversity and distribution patterns of many Arabian and African faunal elements. The gecko genus Hemidactylus is not an exception. In this study, we provide an insight into the phylogeny and systematics of 45 recognized species of the so-called Arid clade of the genus Hemidactylus from Arabia, the Horn of Africa, the Levant and Iran. The material comprises 358 specimens sequenced for up to two mitochondrial (12S rRNA, cytochrome b) and four nuclear (mc1r, cmos, rag1, rag2) genes with 4766 bp of the concatenated alignment length. A robust calibrated phylogeny and reconstruction of historical biogeography are inferred. We link the history of this genus with major geological events that occurred in the region within the last 30 million years. Two basal divergences correspond with the break-ups of the Arabian and African landmasses and subsequent separation of Socotra from the Arabian mainland, respectively, segregating the genus by means of vicariance. Formation of the Red Sea led to isolation and subsequent radiation in the Arabian Peninsula, which was followed by multiple independent expansions: 13.1 Ma to Iran; 9.8 Ma to NE Africa; 8.2 to Socotra Archipelago; 7-7.3 Ma two colonizations to the Near East; 5.9 Ma to NE Africa; and 4.1 to Socotra. Moreover, using multiple genetic markers we detected cryptic diversity within the genus, particularly in southwestern Arabia and the Ethiopian highlands, and confirmed the existence of at least seven new species in the area. These findings highlight the role of Arabia and the Horn of Africa as an important Hemidactylus diversity hotspot.
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2011
A previous study on Hemidactylus turcicus based on mtDNA makers indicated that this gecko has a Middle-East origin, and that the current phylogeographic pattern is the result of a very rapid spread from the east to the west of the species' range. The same study identified two distinct mitochondrial lineages with low differentiation and genetic diversity. Since H. turcicus is known to be closely associated to humanized environments, its present distribution range and phylogeography is frequently interpreted to be the result of recurrent human-mediated introductions. These conclusions used to be the same as those used to interpret the results obtained for the European populations of another gecko, Tarentola mauritanica. However, a recent study has revealed that the phylogeographic pattern of T. mauritanica is not solely the result of a recent colonization, but also of a mitochondrial selective sweep. Could the same be occurring in H. turcicus? To answer this question, two mitochondrial (12S rRNA and cytochrome b) and two nuclear genes (ACM4 and Rag2) were used in this study. From the mtDNA data we confirmed the existence of two distinct phylogeographic lineages; one occurring exclusively in the northern Mediterranean (Clade A), and another one more widespread that is the only lineage present in North Africa (Clade B). In light of these results, we could hypothesize that H. turcicus had its origin in Turkey, and from there Clade A moved to Europe and Clade B to North Africa spreading latter into Europe. However, Clade A presents significantly higher nucleotide diversity for the nuclear DNA compared to the mtDNA, and neutrality tests gave significant results for the mitochondrial data. These results suggest that the lack of mtDNA genetic diversity and structure in the European population of H. turcicus could also be due to a selective sweep, and not only because of a recent colonization. Together with the situation reported in T. mauritanica, the identification of a hitch-hiking process occurring in H. turcicus, represents two unprecedented cases of a selective sweep taking place in the same geographic area shaping the phylogeographic patterns of two unrelated genera of geckos.
Zootaxa, 2014
A new species of gecko of the genus Hemidactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) is described from Oman and extreme eastern Yemen. Hemidactylus minutus sp. nov. is characterized morphologically by its very small size, being the smallest Hemidactylus in mainland Arabia, absence of enlarged tubercles anywhere on the body, expanded subcaudal scales beginning some way from tail base, number of preanal pores, number of lamellae under the first and fourth toes, and weakly contrasted black and white banded pattern on the ventral part of tail. It is also genetically distinct from H. homoeolepis to which it has previously been referred, and from all other closely related Hemidactylus from the arid clade in DNA sequence data for mitochondrial (12S, cyt b, ND4) and three nuclear (RAG1, MC1R, c‑mos) markers. An adult female from southern Yemen and a badly preserved juvenile from southwestern Saudi Arabia previously assigned to H. homoeolepis are morphologically differentiated from this species and from ...
ZooKeys, 2013
A recent molecular phylogeny of the Arid clade of the genus Hemidactylus revealed that the recently described H. saba and two unnamed Hemidactylus species from Sinai, Saudi Arabia and Yemen form a well-supported monophyletic group within the Arabian radiation of the genus. The name 'Hemidactylus saba species group' is suggested for this clade. According to the results of morphological comparisons and the molecular analyses using two mitochondrial (12S and cytb) and four nuclear (cmos, mc1r, rag1, rag2) genes, the name Hemidactylus granosus Heyden, 1827 is resurrected from the synonymy of H. turcicus for the Sinai and Saudi Arabian species. The third species of this group from Yemen is described formally as a new species H. ulii sp. n. The phylogenetic relationships of the members of 'Hemidactylus saba species group' are evaluated and the distribution and ecology of individual species are discussed.
2011
Yemen has a highly specialized fauna and flora of peculiar interest to taxonomic researchers and to evolutionary biologists. Yemen contains a variety of habitats which range from coastal mangroves, shrub lands and dunes along the coastal plains to the eastern deserts and an array of mountain habitats that reach elevations around 3666 m at the tip of the mountain of Jabal Al-Nabi Shauib, the highest point in the Arabian Peninsula. This unique geographical position at the junction point of the Red sea and Arabian Sea has given Yemen different climatic features and topographic areas. These features are favorable for the existence of diverse ecosystems along with a high level of biodiversity, in that way the country has a rich and diverse fauna and flora. There is still need for systematics and phylogenetic studies for the classification of reptiles in Yemen as well as other animals. For that reason, this study is important to clarify the taxonomic status of the genus Hemidactylus in th...
Herpetological Journal, 2018
With currently 149 species, Hemidactylus Oken, 1817 is one of the most species-rich genera of the family Gekkonidae. In this study, 50 Hemidactylus persicus and H. romeshkanicus from southern Iran and three specimens of the newly described species H. kurdicus from north-eastern Iraq were screened using sequences of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene (approximately 400 bp) with two H. hajarensis as outgroups. In addition, 58 specimens were analysed morphologically using 25 mensural and six meristic characters. The genetic data recovered six well supported clades of H. persicus and H. romeshkanicus in southern Iran, which also showed morphological differentiation with the exception of specimens from Khuzestan and Fars provinces. Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and haplotype networks are compatible with our phylogenetic tree and morphological analyses. These findings highlight deep mitochondrial and morphological variation of H. persicus from Iran. Interestingly, our phylogenetic in...
The Herpetological …, 2010
Hemidactylus brookii has one of the widest distributions and, arguably, one of the most confused taxonomic histories of any gekkonid lizard. Nuclear (RAG1 and PDC) and mitochondrial (ND2, cytb) DNA sequence data were employed to examine relationships among a sample of putative H. brookii, including a topotypical specimen from Borneo. Two clades were recovered, one consisting of specimens from Borneo (Sarawak), Myanmar, Peninsular Malaysia and Karnataka, southwestern India, and another of specimens from Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Kerala, southwestern India. Both clades are well supported and deeply divergent from one another, whereas genetic variation within each clade is limited. None of the analytical approaches used recovered a well-supported monophyletic H. brookii sensu lato. Near uniformity of H. brookii sensu stricto in East Asia suggests that this species has spread to this region relatively recently. The name H. parvimaculatus Deraniyagala 1953 is available for the Sri Lankan clade and this form should be treated as a valid species. Existing data cannot be used to distinguish whether this species has colonized Sri Lanka from South India or vice versa. The Palghat Gap provides a candidate barrier to gene flow between H. brookii and H. parvimaculatus. Although the identity of H. brookii complex geckos in East Asia and Sri Lanka appears resolved, the situation in India and Pakistan remains complex and thorough revisionary work, coupled with phylogenetic studies, is needed to determine species boundaries in this region.