Topic
Lepidophyma
About: Lepidophyma is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 34 publications have been published within this topic receiving 802 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: Levels of sequence divergence, as well as the age and affinities of some mainland fossil taxa, suggest that the origin of Cricosaura was associated with the tectonic evolution of the Greater Antilles in the late Cretaceous.
Abstract: Portions of two mitochondrial genes (12S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome b) were sequenced in seven species to examine phylogenetic relationships within the lizard family Xantusiidae. Phylogenies derived from these sequences (709 total bp) are concordant and indicate that the Cuban species Cricosaura typica is the sister group to all other xantusiids. The Middle American genus Lepidophyma is the closest relative of Xantusia, and X. riversiana (California Islands) the closest relative of X. vigilis (mainland). These findings are not in agreement either with the results of a recent morphological analysis that united Cricosaura and Lepidophyma as closest relatives or with past studies that have recognized X. riversiana as a separate genus. Levels of sequence divergence, as well as the age and affinities of some mainland fossil taxa, suggest that the origin of Cricosaura was associated with the tectonic evolution of the Greater Antilles in the late Cretaceous. These results further demonstrate that significant resolution of phylogenies can be obtained with relatively short DNA sequences and that these mitochondrial genes are concordant in their estimation of phylogeny.
105 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a new species of Lepidophyma was described from the Huasteca Potosina region of Mexico, previously confused with L. gaigeae, from which it differs in lacking parietal spot, among other characteristics.
Abstract: In recent years, there has been an increase in the descriptions of members of the lizard genus Lepidophyma. Herein, we describe a new species of Lepidophyma from the Huasteca Potosina region of Mexico, previously confused with L. gaigeae, from which it differs in lacking parietal spot, among other characteristics. We inferred its phylogenetic position and provide information on its thermal and hydric physiology, as well as on some other aspects of natural history. Molecular and morphological data supported the independent taxonomic status of the new species, indicating its placement as the sister taxon of L. gaigeae and a wide morphological separation between these species. Lepidophyma lusca sp. nov. has a diurnal-crepuscular activity period and occurs at lower elevations than L. gaigeae. Also, the new species differ from its sister taxon in its physiology, as reflected by its tendency toward higher thermal parameters and water loss rates. With the description of L. lusca sp. nov., the number of species in the genus Lepidophyma rises to 21.
49 citations
TL;DR: Fossil-calibrated Maximum Likelihood-based divergence time estimates suggest that although the xantusiid stem may have originated in the Mesozoic, the crown clade is exclusively Tertiary in age, and the clade including extant Cricosaura does not appear to have been extant during the K-T boundary bolide impact, as has been suggested.
44 citations
TL;DR: The phylogeny differs from the accepted view of xantusiid relationships in suggesting that Lepidophyma should be transferred from the subfamily Xantus iinae to the Cricosaurinae, and a vicariance model for the distribution of theXantusia-Klauberina clade is proposed.
Abstract: The intergeneric relationships of the lizard family Xantusiidae were reevaluated against a cladistic synthesis of morphological (squamation and osteology) and karyological data. The two data sets were analyzed independently and examined for congruent patterns with each other and against biogeographic-geologic data. Patterns indicated by morphological, karyolog- ical, and biogeographic-geologic data suggest two sister groups: (1) Klauberina-Xantusia; and (2) Cricosaura-Lepidophyma. Our phylogeny differs from the accepted view of xantusiid relationships in suggesting that Lepidophyma should be transferred from the subfamily Xantusiinae (currently consisting of Klauberina, Lepidophyma, and Xantusia) to the Cricosaurinae. We propose a vicariance model for the distribution of the Xantusia-Klauberina clade. (Xantusiidae; morphology; karyology; biogeography; cladistic synthesis.)
42 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The allozyme phylogeny indicates the existence of a northern and southern species clade within the genus Lepidophyma, and a unisexual population of L. flavimaculatum has low levels of fixed heterozygosity and of differentiation from an adjacent bisexual population, and it may not be of hybrid origin.
Abstract: Proteins encoded by 22-32 loci were analysed by starch-gel electrophoresis for 21 populations representing three species of Xantusia and eight species of Lepidophyma. Significant allozyme divergence exists within X. vigilis, with genetic distances between some populations as large as 0.452. Phylogenetic analyses of the allozyme data indicate that the populations of X. vigilis are not united by a uniquely derived allele and that the species may be paraphyletic. Data obtained for 10 loci in X. henshawi bolsonae suggest that it may be most closely related to the sympatric X. vigilis extorris and thus may represent a distinct species. The allozyme phylogeny indicates the existence of a northern and southern species clade within the genus Lepidophyma. A unisexual population of L. flavimaculatum has low levels of fixed heterozygosity and of differentiation from an adjacent bisexual population, and it may not be of hybrid origin.
39 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |