Mitochondrial genetic variation within and between Holbrookia lacerata lacerata and Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis,the spot-tailed earless lizards of Texas |
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| Authors: | Corey E Roelke Jose A Maldonado Blake W Pope Thomas J Firneno Jr Travis J Laduc Toby J Hibbitts |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Biology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA;2. Department of Biology, Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USAcroelke@uta.edu;4. Department of Biology, Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA;5. Biodiversity Collections, Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA;6. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&7. M University, College Station, TX, USA |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACTWe examined genetic relationships among individuals and populations of the species Holbrookia lacerata, the spot-tailed earless lizard, using whole mitochondrial genomes. Lizards were collected from south, central and west Texas. We found significant amounts of genetic structure among populations and evidence of two major reciprocally monophyletic groups of spot-tailed earless lizards in Texas. Holbrookia lacerata lacerata occurs on the Edwards Plateau and adjacent regions of West Texas north of the Balcones Escarpment, while Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis occurs in South Texas and adjacent Mexico south of the Balcones Escarpment. These two recognised subspecies correspond to the two clades we discovered. Holbrookia l. lacerata occupies much of its historical range at sometimes high population densities, while populations of H. l. subcaudalis appear to be highly fragmented based on recent observations compared to their historical range. |
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| Keywords: | Holbrookia lacerata lacerata Holbrookia lacerata subcaudalis whole mitochondrial genomes Texas Balcones Escarpment integrative taxonomy |
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