Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the genus Apostolepis Cope, 1862 (Serpentes, Dipsadidae, Xenodontinae, Elapomorphini)

• Grant number: 15/05047-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2015
• End date: August 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Hussam El Dine Zaher
• Grantee: Daniella Pereira Fagundes de França
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/50206-9 - Origin and evolution of snakes and their diversification in the Neotropics: a multidisciplinary approach, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

The Elapomorhini Tribe differ widely in their standard of intraspecific body color, which tends to generate frequent taxonomic controversies persist. The Apostolepis genre, is known to have a confusing taxonomic history, which contributes to a lack of definition in phylogenetic relationships within the group. Currently there are 32 species of the genus, distributed in South America east of the Andes. Their phylogenetic affinities have been the subject of unresolved issues, as constants rearrangements nomenclatural over the years, invalidations, revalidation, synonymization and reviews. The great morphological variability, the Apostolepis genus have been described and redescribed, with its position questioned every new job. Currently, it is remarkable The need to combine molecular methods and analysis of morphological characters in search of a broader understanding and integrative in snakes, which seems to be the most appropriate approach given the complexity of the taxonomic Apostolepis genre. In this context, carrying out a comprehensive and detailed study that combines both molecular and morphological aspects, represent an undeniable progress in the understanding of the taxonomic status of the species in the revision of this genus and its phylogenetic relationships. Thus, the present project aims to proceed with the taxonomic revision of nominal taxa the species level of the genus Apostolepis. Test the phylogenetic relationship between these hypotheses taxa in order to better define the natural limits of the studied populations and test the monophyly and positioning phylogenetic analysis of the genus in the tribe Apostolepis Elapomorphini. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FRANCA, DANIELLA P. F.; BARBO, FAUSTO E.; SILVA-JUNIOR, NELSON J.; SILVA, HELDER L. R.; ZAHER, HUSSAM. A new species of Apostolepis (Serpentes, Dipsadidae, Elapomorphini) from the Cerrado of Central Brazil. Zootaxa, v. 4521, n. 4, p. 539-552, NOV 16 2018. (11/50206-9, 15/05047-0)

GUEDES, THAIS B.; BARBO, FAUSTO E.; FRANCA, DANIELLA; ZAHER, HUSSAM. Morphological variation of the rare psammophilous species Apostolepis gaboi (Serpentes, Dipsadidae, Elapomorphini). Zootaxa, v. 4418, n. 5, p. 469-480, MAY 10 2018. (11/50206-9, 14/18837-7, 15/05047-0, 13/04170-8)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

FRANÇA, Daniella Pereira Fagundes de. Taxonomic review of the genus Apostolepis Cope, 1862 (Serpentes, Dipsadidae, Xenodontinae, Elapomorphini). 2018. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Rio Claro Rio Claro.