Molecular phylogenetics of the ItalianPodarcislizards (Reptilia, Lacertidae)

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships within the Italian species of the lacertid genus Podarcis were examined by parsimony analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences from the genes encoding the small ribosomal RNA and the phenyl transfer RNA. Lacerta viridis was used as outgroup and Teira dugesii was also included in the ingroup. The 80 phylogenetically informative positions produced four most parsimonious trees, with the Italian Podarcis split into three groups: the first comprised P. filfolensis, P. melisellensis. P. wagleriaria, P. muralis, and P. raffonei, the second P. sicula with its various subspecies. The third lineage was that of P. tiliguerta, whose relationships were resolved as more closely related to the first clade, when weighting transversion three times transitions. Bootstrap analyses on a subset of sequences representing all species herein studied, supported the results from the larger dataset. The present results are only partly in agreement with previous hypotheses based on morphology, immunology, and allozyme variation analyses.

Molecular characterization of native (Italy) and introduced (USA)Podarcis siculapopulations (Reptilia, Lacertidae)

“…Four sequences from a previous work (Oliverio et al, 1998) were employed as representative of the three main subspecies: P. s. sicula, P. s. campestris and P. s. cettii. The new Italian samples and those from the introduced American populations were coded by numbering the Ps# and PUSA# acronyms, respectively.…”

“…Podarcis muralis is phenotypically extremely variable in both its continental and insular Italian range, which is contrasted by a very low level of molecular divergence. Instead, P. sicula is more homogeneous morphologically throughout its range (with several exceptions in small islands), but the existence of at least three subspecies, that traditionally are morphologically based, has been supported by molecular data (Oliverio et al, 1998): P. s. sicula, in southern Italy and Sicily, P. s. campestris (De Betta, 1857) from northern to central Italy and Corsica, and P. s. cettii (Cara, 1872) primarily endemic to Sardinia. The levels of divergence among the tested subspecies (based on specimens from the core of the ranges) were high and seem to demonstrate substantial isolation (especially for the Sardinian cettii, which remarkably proved the most primitive).…”

“…The mtDNA of wall lizards of the genus Podarcis has recently been analysed phylogenetically (Oliverio et al, 1998(Oliverio et al, , 2000Harris & Arnold, 1999). A comparison between the two most widespread Italian species, namely P. sicula (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810) and P. muralis (Laurenti, 1802), evidenced different degrees of molecular heterogeneity.…”

“…They have also been reported from the Bronx, another highly urbanized area, at least 23 km and one significant river away. In a recent work (Oliverio et al, 1998), partial DNA sequences of the mitochondrial gene encoding the 12S ribosomal RNA (12S rDNA) proved diagnostic for specimens of the three main subspecies originating from the core of their subspecific ranges. We decided to test this molecular marker on marginal populations.…”

The Relationship Between Cephalic Scales and Bones in Lizards: A Preliminary Microtomographic Survey on Three Lacertid Species

“…The fossil history of the family extends back at least to the Lower Eocene, about 45-50 My ago Weitschat, 1998, 2002;Borsuk-Bialynicka et al, 1999;Evans, 2003;Hipsley et al, 2009). Despite the large amount of investigation, the phylogenetic relationships within this family are still not completely understood (Arnold, 1973;Oliverio et al, 1998Oliverio et al, , 2000Harris et al, 2005;Arnold et al, 2007).…”