Relict snakes of North America and their relationships within Caenophidia, using likelihood-based Bayesian methods on mitochondrial sequences

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Theodora PinouAdalgisa Caccone

Abstract

This paper focuses on the phylogenetic relationships of eight North American caenophidian snake species (Carphophis amoena, Contia tenuis, Diadophis punctatus, Farancia abacura, Farancia erytrogramma, Heterodon nasicus, Heterodon platyrhinos, and Heterodon simus) whose phylogenetic relationships remain controversial. Past studies have referred to these "relict" North American snakes either as colubrid, or as Neotropical dipsadids and/or xenodontids. Based on mitochondrial DNA ribosomal gene sequences and a likelihood-based Bayesian analysis, our study suggests that these North American snakes are not monophyletic and are nested within a group (Dipsadoidea) that contains the Dipsadidae, Xenodontidae, and Natricidae. In addition, we use the relationships proposed here to highlight putative examples of parallel evolution of hemipenial morphology among snake clades.

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Citations

Jul 21, 2011·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Clément GilbertCédric Feschotte
Aug 1, 2009·Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·Juan M DazaChristopher L Parkinson
Jul 31, 2004·Toxicon : Official Journal of the International Society on Toxinology·Natalie G LumsdenWayne C Hodgson
Jan 13, 2005·Molecular Ecology·Thomas F Duda, Emilio Rolán
Oct 28, 2006·The British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology·Francis TuerlinckxPaul De Boeck

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