A combined morphological and molecular phylogeny of the genus ChironiusFitzinger, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae)

Author(s)

Klaczko, Julia ; Montingelli, Giovanna G. ; Zaher, Hussam

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY; v. 171, n. 3, p. 12-pg., 2014-07-01.

Abstract

Chironius is one of the most speciose genera of the South American colubrid snakes. Although the genus represents a well-known radiation of diurnal racers, its monophyly, affinities with other Neotropical colubrid genera, and intrageneric relationships are open questions. Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis of Chironius based on a data matrix that combines one nuclear (c-mos) and two mitochondrial (12S and 16SrRNA) genes with 37 morphological characters derived from scutellation, skull, and hemipenial features. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML). Our combined morphological and molecular analyses strongly support the monophyly of the genus Chironius and its sister-group relationship with a clade formed by the genera Dendrophidion and Drymobius. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Chironius is still controversial, although five clades are retrieved with medium to strong support.(c) 2014 The Linnean Society of London (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/50206-9 - Origin and evolution of snakes and their diversification in the Neotropics: a multidisciplinary approach
• Grantee: Hussam El Dine Zaher
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 02/13602-4 - Evolution of the southeastern Brazilian reptile fauna from Cretaceous: paleontology, phylogeny and biogeography
• Grantee: Hussam El Dine Zaher
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/17070-6 - Analysis of the influence of ecological and evolutionary factors on morphological diversification of South American Xenodontinae snakes (Serpentes, Dipsadidae)
• Grantee: Julia Klaczko
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral