Open AccessHere be dragons: a phylogenetic and biogeographical study of the S maug warreni species complex ( S quamata: C ordylidae) in southern A frica
Author(s) -
Stanley Edward L.,
Bates Michael F.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
zoological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.148
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1096-3642
pISSN - 0024-4082
DOI - 10.1111/zoj.12187
Subject(s) - vicariance , biology , paraphyly , squamata , allopatric speciation , clade , cladogram , taxon , range (aeronautics) , ecology , taxonomy (biology) , biogeography , sympatric speciation , zoology , phylogenetic tree , evolutionary biology , population , gene , biochemistry , materials science , demography , sociology , composite material
Taxonomy of the S maug warreni species complex remains contentious despite known morphological differences and geographical separation of the various taxa. This study uses an 11‐gene dataset to recover phylogenetic relationships between the seven nominal members of the S . warreni complex. Eight well‐supported clades were returned, with S . warreni barbertonensis found to be paraphyletic. A time‐calibrated analysis of molecular data indicates that all eight clades in the S . warreni complex separated in the late M iocene, much earlier than the date suggested by the existing hypothesis of vicariance through the ingression of K alahari sands. Ecological niche modelling indicates that although all clades are allopatric, a slight decrease in temperature could potentially render them sympatric, supporting an hypothesis of range expansion through climatic change. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London