Taxonomic adjustments in the systematics of the southern African lacertid lizards (Sauria: Lacertidae)

Shelley Edwards; William R. Branch; Bieke Vanhooydonck; Anthony Herrel; G. John Measey; Krystal A. Tolley

doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3669.2.1

Taxonomic adjustments in the systematics of the southern African lacertid lizards (Sauria: Lacertidae)

Shelley Edwards
, William R. Branch
, Bieke Vanhooydonck
, Anthony Herrel
, G. John Measey
, Krystal A. Tolley

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Molecular phylogenetic analyses of southern African lacertid lizards (Eremiadini) using mitochondrial and nuclear markers revealed two examples of generic assignments incompatible with monophyletic clades. Australolacerta Arnold 1989, a genus endemic to South Africa and to which two isolated species have been referred, is paraphyletic at the generic level. In addition, the species Ichnotropis squamulosa Peters 1854 was found to be embedded within the genus Meroles. To resolve the paraphyly in Australolacerta we erect a new genus, Vhembelacerta Edwards, Branch, Herrel, Vanhooydonck, Measey, & Tolley, gen. nov., to accommodate Lacerta rupicola FitzSimons 1933. To maintain a monophyletic Ichnotropis Peters 1854, Ichnotropis squamulosa Peters 1854 is transferred to Meroles Gray 1838, now named Meroles squamulosus comb. nov. Where necessary the genera affected by these actions are re-characterized.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	101-114
Number of pages	14
Journal	Zootaxa
Volume	3669
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3669.2.1
Publication status	Published - 6 Jun 2013
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Australolacerta
Eremiadini
Ichnotropis squamulosa
Lacertidae
Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA
Paraphyly

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Animal Science and Zoology

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10.11646/zootaxa.3669.2.1

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title = "Taxonomic adjustments in the systematics of the southern African lacertid lizards (Sauria: Lacertidae)",

abstract = "Molecular phylogenetic analyses of southern African lacertid lizards (Eremiadini) using mitochondrial and nuclear markers revealed two examples of generic assignments incompatible with monophyletic clades. Australolacerta Arnold 1989, a genus endemic to South Africa and to which two isolated species have been referred, is paraphyletic at the generic level. In addition, the species Ichnotropis squamulosa Peters 1854 was found to be embedded within the genus Meroles. To resolve the paraphyly in Australolacerta we erect a new genus, Vhembelacerta Edwards, Branch, Herrel, Vanhooydonck, Measey, \& Tolley, gen. nov., to accommodate Lacerta rupicola FitzSimons 1933. To maintain a monophyletic Ichnotropis Peters 1854, Ichnotropis squamulosa Peters 1854 is transferred to Meroles Gray 1838, now named Meroles squamulosus comb. nov. Where necessary the genera affected by these actions are re-characterized.",

keywords = "Australolacerta, Eremiadini, Ichnotropis squamulosa, Lacertidae, Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, Paraphyly",

author = "Shelley Edwards and Branch, \{William R.\} and Bieke Vanhooydonck and Anthony Herrel and Measey, \{G. John\} and Tolley, \{Krystal A.\}",

year = "2013",

month = jun,

day = "6",

doi = "10.11646/zootaxa.3669.2.1",

language = "English",

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pages = "101--114",

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T1 - Taxonomic adjustments in the systematics of the southern African lacertid lizards (Sauria: Lacertidae)

AU - Edwards, Shelley

AU - Branch, William R.

AU - Vanhooydonck, Bieke

AU - Herrel, Anthony

AU - Measey, G. John

AU - Tolley, Krystal A.

PY - 2013/6/6

Y1 - 2013/6/6

N2 - Molecular phylogenetic analyses of southern African lacertid lizards (Eremiadini) using mitochondrial and nuclear markers revealed two examples of generic assignments incompatible with monophyletic clades. Australolacerta Arnold 1989, a genus endemic to South Africa and to which two isolated species have been referred, is paraphyletic at the generic level. In addition, the species Ichnotropis squamulosa Peters 1854 was found to be embedded within the genus Meroles. To resolve the paraphyly in Australolacerta we erect a new genus, Vhembelacerta Edwards, Branch, Herrel, Vanhooydonck, Measey, & Tolley, gen. nov., to accommodate Lacerta rupicola FitzSimons 1933. To maintain a monophyletic Ichnotropis Peters 1854, Ichnotropis squamulosa Peters 1854 is transferred to Meroles Gray 1838, now named Meroles squamulosus comb. nov. Where necessary the genera affected by these actions are re-characterized.

AB - Molecular phylogenetic analyses of southern African lacertid lizards (Eremiadini) using mitochondrial and nuclear markers revealed two examples of generic assignments incompatible with monophyletic clades. Australolacerta Arnold 1989, a genus endemic to South Africa and to which two isolated species have been referred, is paraphyletic at the generic level. In addition, the species Ichnotropis squamulosa Peters 1854 was found to be embedded within the genus Meroles. To resolve the paraphyly in Australolacerta we erect a new genus, Vhembelacerta Edwards, Branch, Herrel, Vanhooydonck, Measey, & Tolley, gen. nov., to accommodate Lacerta rupicola FitzSimons 1933. To maintain a monophyletic Ichnotropis Peters 1854, Ichnotropis squamulosa Peters 1854 is transferred to Meroles Gray 1838, now named Meroles squamulosus comb. nov. Where necessary the genera affected by these actions are re-characterized.

KW - Australolacerta

KW - Eremiadini

KW - Ichnotropis squamulosa

KW - Lacertidae

KW - Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA

KW - Paraphyly

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84878837760

U2 - 10.11646/zootaxa.3669.2.1

DO - 10.11646/zootaxa.3669.2.1

M3 - Article

C2 - 26312325

AN - SCOPUS:84878837760

SN - 1175-5326

VL - 3669

SP - 101

EP - 114

JO - Zootaxa

JF - Zootaxa

IS - 2

ER -

Taxonomic adjustments in the systematics of the southern African lacertid lizards (Sauria: Lacertidae)

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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