Molecular Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Grass Lizards Genus Takydromus (Reptilia: Lacertidae) of East Asia

A Biogeographic Synthesis of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Indochina

“…Similarly, within the Asian grass lizard genus Takydromus, nested phylogenetic positions of mainland species among island species have been explained by dispersal from Southeast Asia and southern China to east Asian islands with a subsequent recolonization of the continent , or by a bifurcated dispersal from southeast China, west to Mainland Southeast Asia, and east to east Asian islands (after Lin et al, 2002). Flying lizards of the genus Draco and fanged frogs of the genus Limnonectes also have mainland species nested among Sunda island clades, suggesting ancestral dispersal between the mainland and islands (Honda et al, 1999;Emerson et al, 2000;Evans et al, 2003).…”

“…These include fossorial species that often evade detection in surveys, such as ichthyophiids, anguids, dibamids, and calamarines; strictly arboreal species that can also evade detection; species that are part of poorly defined taxonomic groups such as those of the genera Dinodon (see , Oligodon (see David et al, 2008b, c), Amphiesma (see , and Draco (see McGuire and Heang, 2001). Combined survey efforts and morphological and molecular analyses will likely resolve some of the wide-ranging cryptic species complexes such as those of the genera Paramesotriton (see , Fejervarya (see Toda et al, 1998a, b;Veith et al, 2001), Limnonectes (see Emerson et al, 2000;Evans et al, 2003;, Odorrana (see Fei et al, 2001;Li et al, 2001;Bain et al, , 2009cOrlov et al, 2006c), Hylarana (see Murphy et al, 1997;Matsui et al, 2002), Polypedates (see He, 1999;Orlov et al, 2002b;, Rhacophorus (see Ohler and Delorme, 2006), Calotes (see Zug et al, 2006), Leiolepis (see Schmitz et al, 2001), Takydromus (see Lin et al, 2002), Dixonius (see Ota et al, 2001), Emoia (see Emilio et al, 1996), Naja (see Wü ster and Thorpe, 1992), possibly Sacalia (Shi et al, 2008), and several genera of green tree vipers (see Malhotra and Thorpe, 2004a, b). This will result in an increase in the number of endemic species and a concomitant decrease in the number of widespread species.…”

Taxonomic revision of the Lycocerus hanatanii species group (Coleoptera, Cantharidae), with the description of new species from Taiwan

“…10). The speciation process of this species group, especially insular species such as L. hanatanii and L. ueharaensis, is possibly associated with the paleogeographic history of the East China Sea and the islands of eastern Asia during the Pleistocene glaciation, as in the case of the grass lizards (Lin et al 2002). Sea level changed during this period and resulted in the appearance of a larger continental land area to provide animals the opportunity to migrate from continent to islands, then some populations were isolated when sea levels rose again, and speciation occurred.…”

A cladistic analysis reveals an eastern Tibetan occurrence ofTaiwanoserica(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

“…Choi 2000), however, according to the diff erent extent of radiations on Taiwan we have possibly to expect some signifi cant diff erences in the timing of these events. Th e great distance of separation between the related lineages is a matter of the ecological and altitudinal preferences of these groups whose dispersals were consequently also linked to colder climates with lower sea levels in which they could conquer the lowlands of East Asia (Tsukada 1967;Lin et al 2002).…”

“…Due its richness of endemism and huge biodiversity due to the altitudinal and climatological variety it have been also an attractive object for biogeography (e.g. Mey 1997; Choi 2000; Lin et al 2002). Th is study of the chafer group Taiwanoserica Nomura1974 illustrates, indeed, how much species classifi cation and biogeographical investigation of Taiwan's fauna rely on the exploration of the so far only poorly studied neighbouring areas of East and South-East Asia .…”