Reconquering the water: Evolution and systematics of South and Central American aquatic lizards (Gymnophthalmidae)

Author(s):Show less -

Marques-Souza, Sergio ^[1] ; Prates, Ivan ^[2] ; Fouquet, Antoine ^[3] ; Camacho, Agustin ^[1] ; Kok, Philippe J. R. ^[4] ; Nunes, Pedro M. S. ^[5] ; Dal Vechio, Francisco ^[1] ; Recoder, Renato Sousa ^[1] ; Mejia, Nathalia ^[1] ; Teixeira Junior, Mauro ^[1] ; Barrio-Amoros, Cesar ^[6] ; Cassimiro, Jose ^[1] ; Lima, Jucivaldo Dias ^[7] ; de Sena, Marco Aurelio ^[1] ; Rodrigues, Miguel Trefaut ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, Lab Herpetol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Smithsonian Inst, Natl Museum Nat Hist, Dept Vertebrate Zool, Washington, DC 20560 - USA

^[3] Univ Guyane, CNRS Guyane, LEEISA, Cayenne - French Guiana

^[4] Vrije Univ Brussel, Dept Biol, Amphibian Evolut Lab, Brussels - Belgium

^[5] Univ Fed Pernambuco, Dept Zool, Recife, PE - Brazil

^[6] Doc Frog Expedit, Uvita - Costa Rica

^[7] Inst Pesquisas Cient & Tecnol Estado Amapa, Nucleo Biodiversidade, Macapa, Amapa - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ZOOLOGICA SCRIPTA; v. 47, n. 3, p. 255-265, MAY 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

The Cercosaurini tribe stands out from other Gymnophthalmidae lizards for including several species with morphological adaptations to aquatic lifestyle (Crocodile-Like Morphology - CLM). Recent molecular phylogenies of Cercosaurini demonstrated the paraphyly of CLM species, implicitly suggesting that adaptations to the aquatic life evolved more than once. However, CLM species have remained poorly sampled, and a number of uncertainties persist, such as the monophyly of Neusticurus and the placement of Potamites apodemus within the tribe. Based on a more extensive molecular and morphological data set, we propose a phylogenetic hypothesis for Neusticurus and investigate, for the first time, the phylogenetic position of P.apodemus. We recovered a monophyletic Neusticurus clade; however, Neusticurus rudis as currently understood was recovered as paraphyletic, with two lineages that also show consistent morphological diagnosis; as a result, we resurrect and provide a taxonomic redescription of Neusticurus surinamensis Muller, . Moreover, because P.apodemus was recovered as sister to all other Echinosaura, we propose a new combination for this species (Echinosaura apodema). We also review the distribution of Neusticurus species, offering a comprehensive view of their biogeography. Lastly, our ancestral character reconstruction and dating analyses indicate that the CLM phenotype evolved four times independently during Cercosaurinis evolutionary history. We hypothesize that the CLM phenotype and subsequent adaptation to aquatic life may be linked to the development of the Pebas Lake in western Amazonia during the Miocene. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/10163-1 - Phylogeny and systematics of the lizards genus Leposoma gr. parietale (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae), based on morphological and molecular characters
• Grantee: Sérgio Marques de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/01300-3 - Use of voluntary maximum temperatures for linking thermal physiology and species geographic range size
• Grantee: Agustín Camacho Guerrero
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 11/50146-6 - Comparative phylogeography, phylogeny, paleoclimate modeling, and taxonomy of neotropical reptiles and amphibians
• Grantee: Miguel Trefaut Urbano Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/15754-8 - Ecogeographical consequences of evolution of the snake-like morphotype in squamates
• Grantee: Agustín Camacho Guerrero
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral