Published January 1, 2015
| Version v1
Journal article
Open
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY AND MICRO CT-SCANNING REVEALED EXTREME CRYPTIC BIODIVERSITY IN KUKRI SNAKE, Muhtarophis GEN. NOV., A NEW GENUS FOR Rhynchocalamus barani (SERPENTES: COLUBRIDAE)
Creators
- 1. Adnan Menderes Univ, Fac Sci & Arts, Dept Biol, Aydin, Turkey
- 2. Dokuz Eylul Univ, Fac Sci, Dept Biol, Izmir, Turkey
- 3. Grad Univ Adv Technol, Inst Sci & High Technol & Environm Sci, Dept Biodivers, Kerman, Iran
- 4. Univ Ghent, Evolutionary Morphol Vertebrates, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Description
Application of taxonomy exclusively based on external morphology, molecular phylogeny and noninvasive anatomical investigation using micro CT scanning together is effective in resolving systematic problems, such as cryptic species. The external morphology, skull osteology and molecular phylogeny of Baran's black-headed dwarf snake, Rhynchocalamus barani, and a subspecies of the Palestine kukri snake, Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus, were examined. Considerable osteological and molecular differences indicate that the genus Rhynchocalamus is paraphyletic. As a result, Baran's black-headed dwarf snake should be referred to a monotypic genus, Muhtarophis gen. nov. Based on morphology and molecular data, R. satunini, previously known as a subspecies of R. melanocephalus, should be assigned the rank of species.
Files
bib-7cdd9b6f-db2d-4712-a943-bfe08138b8f5.txt
Files
(336 Bytes)
| Name | Size | Download all |
|---|---|---|
|
md5:bbee7cf64d3c511eb7356e459c28b943
|
336 Bytes | Preview Download |