Phylogenetic analysis of Malayopython reticulatus (Schneider, 1801) from Southern Sulawesi based on morphological and molecular character

Malayopython reticulatus is widely distributed from South Asia to Southeast Asia, including most of the Indonesian islands except Papua and surrounding apart. Malayopython reticulatus divided into three subspecies based on morphological characters and molecular data. The geographical barrier does exist among populations which result in the formation of a new subspecies. The latest two subspecies described from a population of Selayar Island and Tanahjampea (South Sulawesi). However, there are some populations have distinctive morphological characters and not recorded yet such Karumpa, Honey/Madu and Kalaotoa Islands (South Sulawesi). This study purpose was to identify morphological and molecular characters of Malayopython reticulatus population of related islands and examine the phylogenetic relationship among them. The study was divided into two steps, first was to identify morphological character including morphometric, head scale character and body scales. Later step was DNA isolation and sequencing of...