Latest Articles from ZooKeys Latest 2 Articles from ZooKeys https://zookeys.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:55:58 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://zookeys.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from ZooKeys https://zookeys.pensoft.net/ A comparison of gene organisations and phylogenetic relationships of all 22 squamate species listed in South Korea using complete mitochondrial DNA https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/82981/ ZooKeys 1129: 21-35

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1129.82981

Authors: Daesik Park, Il-Hun Kim, Il-Kook Park, Alejandro Grajal-Puche, Jaejin Park

Abstract: Studies using complete mitochondrial genome data have the potential to increase our understanding on gene organisations and evolutionary species relationships. In this study, we compared complete mitochondrial genomes between all 22 squamate species listed in South Korea. In addition, we constructed Maximum Parsimony (MP), Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) phylogenetic trees using 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes. The mitochondrial genes for all six species in the suborder Sauria followed the same organisation as the sequenced Testudines (turtle) outgroup. In contrast, 16 snake species in the suborder Serpentes contained some gene organisational variations. For example, all snake species contained a second control region (CR2), while three species in the family Viperidae had a translocated tRNA-Pro gene region. In addition, the snake species, Elaphe schrenckii, carried a tRNA-Pro pseudogene. We were also able to identify a translocation of a tRNA-Asn gene within the five tRNA (WANCY gene region) gene clusters for two true sea snake species in the subfamily Hydrophiinae. Our BI phylogenetic tree was also well fitted against currently known Korean squamate phylogenetic trees, where each family and genus unit forms monophyletic clades and the suborder Sauria is paraphyletic to the suborder Serpentes. Our results may form the basis for future northeast Asian squamate phylogenetic studies.

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Research Article Thu, 10 Nov 2022 09:54:34 +0200
A new species of the genus Takydromus (Squamata, Lacertidae) from southwestern Guangdong, China https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/35947/ ZooKeys 871: 119-139

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.871.35947

Authors: Jian Wang, Zhi-Tong Lyu, Chen-Yu Yang, Yu-Long Li, Ying-Yong Wang

Abstract: A new species, Takydromus yunkaiensis J. Wang, Lyu, & Y.Y. Wang, sp. nov. is described based on a series of specimens collected from the Yunkaishan Nature Reserve located in the southern Yunkai Mountains, western Guangdong Province, China. The new species is a sister taxon to T. intermedius with a genetic divergence of 8.0–8.5% in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, and differs from all known congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: (1) body size moderate, SVL 37.8–56.0 mm in males, 42.6–60.8 mm in females; (2) dorsal ground color brown; ventral surface green to yellow-green, but light blue-green on chin and throat, posteriorly green in adult males; (3) dorsolateral lines paired, strikingly yellowish-white bordered by black above and below, invisible or indistinct in juveniles and adult females; (4) flanks of body blackish brown with light brown marks in adult males; (5) presence of four pairs of chin-shields; (6) four supraoculars on each side; (7) presence of a row of supracilary granules that separate supracilaries from supraoculars; (8) two postnasals; (9) enlarged dorsal scales in six longitudinal rows on trunk of body, with strong keel; (10) enlarged ventral scales in six longitudinal rows, strongly keeled in males, smooth but outermost rows weakly keeled in females; (11) enlarged and keeled lateral scales in a row above ventrals; (12) femoral pores 2–3 on each side; (13) subdigital lamellae 20–23 under the fourth finger, 23–30 under the fourth toe; and (14) the first 2–3 subdigital lamellae under the fourth toe divided. The discovery of Takydromus yunkaiensis sp. nov. brings the total number of species of this genus to 24, of which nine occur in mainland China.

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Research Article Mon, 12 Aug 2019 13:28:37 +0300