Squamate areas of endemism in Cuba as determined by parsimony analysis of endemicity

Abstract

Cuba, the largest island in the Greater Antilles, hosts a high diversity of native squamate reptiles and is characterized by a complex geological history. The island has undergone repeated submergence and emergence, positioned on the dynamic border between the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates. Here, we infer current areas of endemism on Cuba based on squamate distributions using standard parsimony analysis of endemism under the “areas of endemism as individuals” hypothesis. We diagnose 29 areas of endemism, 14 of which are nested within other areas of endemism, from 52 squamate taxa. We suspect the current biotic pattern is a composite view of layered histories, and we summarize the geological history of the island to contemplate historical periods that left stronger marks on squamate distributions than others.

Areas of endemism of Jamaica: inferences from Parsimony Analysis of Endemism based on amphibian and reptile distributions

“…Our interpretation of the PAE results follows our ontological conclusions on the nature of areas of endemism (Crother and Murray 2011). While many criticisms (see Murray and Crother 2018 for an exhaustive rebuttal to these) have been leveled at PAE, we agree with Fattorini (2017: 56) that "these critiques do not disprove its use to identify areas of endemism. "…”

“…Another common distributional pattern, that is less common in Cuba (Murray and Crother 2018), is highly peripheral around Jamaica, with taxa inhabiting coastal habitats, like taxon 8, the Jamaican Croaking Gecko (Aristelliger praesignis (Hallowell, 1857)) (Fig. 4), and taxon 44, the Jamaican Groundlizard (Pholidoscelis dorsalis (Gray, 1838)) (Fig.…”

“…A presence/absence (0=absent, 1=present) data matrix (available as supplementary information) was constructed based on these distribution ranges and included an all 0 outgroup. The analysis and interpretation followed the PAE method (Parsimony Analysis of Endemism), following Rosen (1988), Crother and Murray (2013), Morrone (2014), and Murray and Crother (2018). The data were analyzed within a parsimony framework using (Swofford 2002).…”

“…The present study seeks to test the existence of these and/or other areas of endemism (AEs) in Jamaica on the basis of amphibian and reptile distributions. We employ the Parsimony Analysis of Endemism (PAE) approach following Rosen (1988) and as modified by Morrone (2014), Crother and Murray (2013), and Murray and Crother (2018). Our interpretation of the PAE results follows our ontological conclusions on the nature of areas of endemism (Crother and Murray 2011).…”