Cryptic diversity and molecular systematics of the AegeanOphiomorusskinks (Reptilia: Squamata), with the description of a new species

Abstract

In recent years, great attention has been devoted to the discovery and description of cryptic species, especially using DNA markers and new statistical approaches. Genetic data are useful for discovering new lineages that can then be treated as hypotheses to be tested using morphology. Here, we use multilocus genetic data and a thorough sampling to delimit species within the Greek legless skink. Phylogenetic analyses reveal high levels of genetic diversity, suggesting that Ophiomorus punctatissimus includes at least two species, East and West of the Aegean Sea. Moreover, species delimitation methods support at least two and up to five species within the western O. punctatissimus, and this result is shared among single‐locus (ABGD, PTP, and GMYC) and multilocus coalescent (BPP) methods. We examined whether the two allopatric lineages exhibit morphological differentiation, but the different preservation methods used for the examined material led to inconclusive results. However, morphological conservatism in this semi‐fossorial limbless skink possibly also played a key role. Finally, we formally recognize the East Aegean taxon as a separate species and we provide a differential diagnosis based on DNA diagnostic characters.

Descriptive osteology and patterns of limb loss of the European limbless skink Ophiomorus punctatissimus (Squamata, Scincidae)

“…; Kornilios et al. ), ranging from southeastern Europe (mainland of Greece) to western India (Anderson & Leviton, ). Following the first revision of the genus by Boulenger (), in which six species were recognized ( Ophiomorus blanfordi , Ophiomorus brevipes , Ophiomorus latastii , Ophiomorus persicus , Ophiomorus punctatissimus , Ophiomorus tridactylus ), three more were added by Anderson & Leviton (): Ophiomorus chernovi , Ophiomorus raithmai and Ophiomorus streeti .…”

“…In 2018, a 12th species was described as Ophiomorus kardesi Kornilios et al. , to accommodate the Anatolian populations previously attributed to O. punctatissimus (Kornilios et al. ).…”

“…The scincid lizard genus Ophiomorus was first described by Dum eril & Bibron (1839) to accommodate the species Ophiomorus miliaris Dum eril & Bibron, 1839, intended as a 'junior objective synonym of Anguis punctatissimus' (Anderson & Leviton, 1966: 500, 525), which was subsequently renamed as Ophiomorus punctatissimus (Boulenger, 1887). The genus Ophiomorus currently comprises 12 extant species (Kazemi et al 2011;Kornilios et al 2018), ranging from southeastern Europe (mainland of Greece) to western India (Anderson & Leviton, 1966). Following the first revision of the genus by Boulenger (1887), in which six species were recognized (Ophiomorus blanfordi, Ophiomorus brevipes, Ophiomorus latastii, Ophiomorus persicus, Ophiomorus punctatissimus, Ophiomorus tridactylus), three more were added by Anderson & Leviton (1966): Ophiomorus chernovi, Ophiomorus raithmai and Ophiomorus streeti.…”

“…The subsequent description of Ophiomorus nuchalis Nilson & Andr en, 1978 and Ophiomorus maranjabensis Kazemi et al 2011 raised that number to 11. In 2018, a 12th species was described as Ophiomorus kardesi Kornilios et al 2018, to accommodate the Anatolian populations previously attributed to O. punctatissimus (Kornilios et al 2018).…”

“…However, a rigid distinction between an eastern and a western group was only partially confirmed: the eastern species group was shown to be monophyletic, whereas the monophyly of the western species group remains uncertain. Ophiomorus maranjabensis and O. kardesi, which were described after the study of Greer & Wilson (2001) was conducted, were identified, respectively, as sister taxa of O. raithmai (thus suggesting inclusion in the eastern species group, in accordance with its geographic provenance) and of O. punctatissimus (Kazemi et al 2011;Kornilios et al 2018).…”