Unrecognized species diversity and new insights into colour pattern polymorphism within the widespread Malagasy snakeMimophis(Serpentes: Lamprophiidae)

Molecular evidence for cryptic species in the common slug eating snake Duberria lutrix lutrix (Squamata, Lamprophiidae) from South Africa

“…Glaw et al (2007) reported that within the Malagasy Geodipsasinfralineata using the cyt b marker uncorrected sequence divergence between the two clades ranged between 4.7–4.8%. Similarly, Ruane et al (2017) using morphology and DNA sequencing (of the cytochrome oxidase one locus) observed two clades within the widespread Malagasy snake Mimophismahfalensis . It is noteworthy, that while the phylogenetic affinities within the Lamprophiidae has recently received attention (Vidal et al 2008; Portillo et al 2018), phylogeographic studies remain limited.…”

A snake in the grass: Genetic structuring of the widespread African grass snake (PsammophylaxFitzinger 1843), with the description of a new genus and a new species

“…Convergent evolution can confound conventional taxonomists because genetically divergent clades can overlap both geographically and morphologically, leading to unappreciated species diversity (Gittenberger, ; Losos, ). Mimophis mahfalensis , a widespread Malagasy snake, was recently split into two species based on molecular evidence (Ruane et al, ), even though the three distinct color/pattern forms are known for both species (Ruane et al, ). Within P. variabilis, P. rhombeatus, and P. multisquamis , there is substantial intraspecific color and pattern variation, suggesting that these characters are labile and therefore unsuitable for use in species delineation within Psammophylax , much like in Mimophis (Ruane et al, ; Spawls et al, ).…”

“…Mimophis mahfalensis , a widespread Malagasy snake, was recently split into two species based on molecular evidence (Ruane et al, ), even though the three distinct color/pattern forms are known for both species (Ruane et al, ). Within P. variabilis, P. rhombeatus, and P. multisquamis , there is substantial intraspecific color and pattern variation, suggesting that these characters are labile and therefore unsuitable for use in species delineation within Psammophylax , much like in Mimophis (Ruane et al, ; Spawls et al, ). The use of two‐dimensional morphometric analysis successfully distinguished K. a acutus comb.…”

“…Cryptic species pose a particular challenge for systematics and taxonomy, and may result from recently evolved sister species having ambiguous species boundaries because salient morphological differences have not yet accumulated (Florio, Ingram, Rakotondravony, Louis, & Raxworthy, ; Portillo & Greenbaum, ). Several key instances of cryptic speciation have been highlighted in the Lamprophiidae (Greenbaum, Portillo, Jackson, & Kusamba, ; Kelly et al, ; Ruane et al, ). For example, Mimophis occultus ( occultus —Latin for “concealed in plain sight”) was recently described from northern Madagascar (Ruane et al, ), indicating that widespread habitat generalists may be incorrectly described when taking only morphology into account.…”

“…Several key instances of cryptic speciation have been highlighted in the Lamprophiidae (Greenbaum, Portillo, Jackson, & Kusamba, ; Kelly et al, ; Ruane et al, ). For example, Mimophis occultus ( occultus —Latin for “concealed in plain sight”) was recently described from northern Madagascar (Ruane et al, ), indicating that widespread habitat generalists may be incorrectly described when taking only morphology into account. The taxonomic history of Psammophylax suggests that cryptic speciation might be concealing diversity within this genus (Broadley, ).…”