The reduced limbed lizards of the genus Bachia (Reptilia, Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae); biogeography, cryptic diversity, and morphological convergence in the eastern Caribbean

Murphy, John C.; Salvi, Daniele; Santos, Joana L.; Braswell, Alvin L.; Charles, Stevland P.; Borzée, Amaël; Jowers, Michael J.

doi:10.1007/s13127-019-00393-4

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Within the last two decades, advances in molecular methodologies have greatly changed perspectives and understanding of the phylogeographic and biogeographic processes across our studied region [ 43 , 45 , 82 ]. Most of these studies have however focused on the eastern rather than the western region of northern Venezuela, especially around the PR, and the islands of TRI-TOB [ 43 , 45 , 73 , 82 ]. Such study bias results in part from the enticing evolution that the region’s unique habitats and topography ( Fig 1 ), proximity to northern Venezuela, and the existence of well-dated Pliocene-Pleistocene land-bridge formations to the mainland play in the complex pattern of stepping stone colonization of the Caribbean [ 83 – 85 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeographical patterns of amphibians and reptiles in the northernmost coastal montane complex of South America

et al. 2021

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We examine, for the first time, biogeographic patterns in a series of tropical montane coastal systems in northern South America. We use amphibians and reptiles, which constitute the most critical communities based upon the prevalence of endemic taxa, to assess the region’s biodiversity. The montane coastal system spans an east-west distance of 925 km. It includes peaks ranging from 549 m to 2765 m above sea level and encompasses the montane complexes of northern Venezuela (including Isla de Margarita), an outlier at Santa Marta (Colombia), and ranges on the islands Trinidad and Tobago. The area supports 14 family level amphibian clades and 23 family level reptile clades. Fieldwork, museum specimen surveys, and a literature review suggest that biodiversity decreases at higher elevations. Here we examine the biogeographic patterns in the region to assess the role of the montane systems as possible refugia. We also look at the possible island and sky island effects using data from altitudes >200 m. At lower elevations, we tabulated 294 species, comprising 112 amphibians and 182 reptiles. About 45% of these taxa are endemic or exclusive to different sub-regions. At mid-elevation montane cloud forests, we find a much-reduced biodiversity with a total of 125 species (66 amphibians and 59 reptiles) exclusive or restricted to the region, and few species shared between systems. We find that biogeographical patterns follow a natural topographic disposition above 200 m in elevations. At the lower elevation cut off, there are 118 species (26 amphibians and 92 reptiles) shared among two or more of the studied mountain systems, suggesting a common origin and dispersal events, despite what seem to be topographic barriers. Biogeographical relationships support a topographic disposition of the region with close associations between the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, the Paria Range and the Turimiquire Massif, and close associations between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Sierra de San Luis. Overall, the biogeographic relationships between amphibians and reptiles are similar. Species diversity in the eastern Caribbean region is less rich than in the west. This study includes the first herpetological surveys at the two easternmost mountains (Cerro La Cerbatana and Campeare) belonging to the Paria Range biogeographic unit, and aims to contribute to a better understanding of the rich biodiversity of the region.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeographical patterns of amphibians and reptiles in the northernmost coastal montane complex of South America

et al. 2021

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“…Several phylogenetic studies in the region suggest that the frequently changing topography facilitated the connections and colonization events between the mainland (Venezuela and Guyana) and the islands of Trinidad and Tobago (Jowers et al, 2011(Jowers et al, , 2015(Jowers et al, , 2020Murphy, Salvi, Santos, et al, 2019). Interestingly, most studies show remarkably low genetic divergence between localities (Jowers et al, 2019;Murphy et al, 2016), suggesting recent colonization of the Lesser Antilles and island extensions plausibly via sea-level drops of 50-120 m (Hansen & Routledge, 2016;Murphy, 1997;Rohling et al, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tobago has eight endemic species, three frogs, two lizards, and three snakes Murphy et al, 2018;Murphy, Salvi, Santos, et al, 2019). Most Tobago endemics seem to have their closest living relatives in the Venezuelan Central Coastal Range, as opposed to the more proximal island of Trinidad.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most Tobago endemics seem to have their closest living relatives in the Venezuelan Central Coastal Range, as opposed to the more proximal island of Trinidad. For example, the Tobago endemic frog Mannophryne olmonae is sister to the coastal range endemic stream frog M. riveroi (Manzanilla et al, 2009), and the Tobago endemic Bachia whitei seems related to mainland B. flavescens (Murphy, Salvi, Santos, et al, 2019). The Tobago Stream Snake, Erythrolamprus pseudoreginae is known only from Tobago, but its closest relatives are present in North-Central Venezuela .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The enigmatic biogeography of Tobago's marooned relics: The case study of a fossorial snake (Squamata, Dipsadidae)

Jowers

Schargel

Muñoz‐Mérida

et al. 2021

J Zool Syst Evol Res

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The islands of Trinidad and Tobago form a southern extension of the Lesser Antilles.Unlike the continental island of Trinidad, the more northerly Tobago formed as an older oceanic island volcanic arc. Their reptile biodiversity reflects colonization events from the South American mainland through land bridge connections at times of glacial maxima. Most of Tobago's herpetofauna has colonized through stepping-stone events from Trinidad. However, the enigmatic presence of a rare and poorly known fossorial snake in Tobago, Western Venezuela and Colombia, but absent in Trinidad and Eastern Venezuela, raises interesting questions regarding its biogeography, mode and timing of colonization of the island. Here, we sequence for the first time gene fragments from three individuals from Western Venezuela and one from Tobago and include them in the largest phylogeny of Atractus to date. We validate the monophyly of the species based on morphology and molecular data, with an unexpected low genetic divergence between island and mainland specimens. Despite more than 1000 km separating them, our time tree indicates a mean 550,000 year divergence.We examine alternative scenarios to explain the biogeography and conclude on an ancient corridor of coastal land bridges at times of very low (>100 m) sea-level falls that connected Venezuela to Tobago.

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Unraveling unique island colonization events in Elachistocleis frogs: phylogeography, cryptic divergence, and taxonomical implications

et al. 2021

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The reduced limbed lizards of the genus Bachia (Reptilia, Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae); biogeography, cryptic diversity, and morphological convergence in the eastern Caribbean

Cited by 6 publications

References 42 publications

Biogeographical patterns of amphibians and reptiles in the northernmost coastal montane complex of South America

Biogeographical patterns of amphibians and reptiles in the northernmost coastal montane complex of South America

The enigmatic biogeography of Tobago's marooned relics: The case study of a fossorial snake (Squamata, Dipsadidae)

Unraveling unique island colonization events in Elachistocleis frogs: phylogeography, cryptic divergence, and taxonomical implications

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