Dataset Information

Taxonomic review of the Calotesversicolor complex (Agamidae, Sauria, Squamata) in China, with description of a new species and subspecies.

ABSTRACT: Caloteswangisp. nov., a new species of the agamid genus Calotes Cuvier, 1817, from southern China and northern Vietnam, is described. This species can be distinguished from all known congeners by a combination of morphological characteristics and genetic divergence in the mitochondrial tRNA, ND2, and CO1 genes. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new species was formed as a monophyletic group and that considerable genetic divergence existed between its congeners (minimum p-distance, 4.6%). Caloteswangisp. nov. is distinguished by a combination of the following characteristics: average SVL < 90 mm for adult males; 10-14 dorsal eyelid scales; scales on side of neck and adjacent shoulder area pointing obliquely upward; keels on neck scales weakly to strongly developed; fold in front of the shoulder absent; pair of dark triangular patches extending from the front of the shoulder to the jaw angles; and orange coloration of the tongue. Caloteswangisp. nov. is similar to C.irawadi but differs in having scales between the nasal shield and the orbit and a fourth toe with a claw that can reach between the eyes and tympanum (even to the snout when hind the limbs are adpressed forward). Phylogenetic analyses revealed two well-supported subspecies, Lineages A and B in C.wangisp. nov., with mean uncorrected p-distances between them of 2%. We propose that Lineage A, which is mainly from the central and southern Wuzhi Mountains on Hainan Island, is a subspecies, C.w.hainanensisssp. nov. Lineage B mainly comprises individuals from other sites on the island plus the adjacent mainland, and is described as subspecies, C.w.wangissp. nov. A diagnostic key to all Calotes species of China is also provided.

SUBMITTER: Huang Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10755893 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Taxonomic review of the Calotesversicolor complex (Agamidae, Sauria, Squamata) in China, with description of a new species and subspecies.

Huang Yong Y Li Hongyu H Wang Yilin Y Li Maojin M Hou Mian M Cai Bo B

ZooKeys 20231220

Caloteswangisp. nov., a new species of the agamid genus Calotes Cuvier, 1817, from southern China and northern Vietnam, is described. This species can be distinguished from all known congeners by a combination of morphological characteristics and genetic divergence in the mitochondrial tRNA, ND2, and CO1 genes. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the new species was formed as a monophyletic group and that considerable genetic divergence existed between its congener ...[more]

PMID: 38161713

Similar Datasets

Project description:A recent multilocus molecular phylogeny of the large dragon lizards of the genus Smaug Stanley et al. (2011) recovered a south-eastern clade of two relatively lightly-armoured, geographically-proximate species (Smaug warreni (Boulenger, 1908) and S. barbertonensis (Van Dam, 1921)). Unexpectedly, S. barbertonensis was found to be paraphyletic, with individuals sampled from northern Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) being more closely related to S. warreni than to S. barbertonensis from the type locality of Barberton in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Examination of voucher specimens used for the molecular analysis, as well as most other available museum material of the three lineages, indicated that the 'Eswatini' lineage-including populations in a small area on the northern Eswatini-Mpumalanga border, and northern KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa-was readily distinguishable from S. barbertonensis sensu stricto (and S. warreni) by its unique dorsal, lateral and ventral colour patterns. In order to further assess the taxonomic status of the three populations, a detailed morphological analysis was conducted. Multivariate analyses of scale counts and body dimensions indicated that the 'Eswatini' lineage and S. warreni were most similar. In particular, S. barbertonensis differed from the other two lineages by its generally lower numbers of transverse rows of dorsal scales, and a relatively wider head. High resolution Computed Tomography also revealed differences in cranial osteology between specimens from the three lineages. The 'Eswatini' lineage is described here as a new species, Smaug swazicus sp. nov., representing the ninth known species of dragon lizard. The new species appears to be near-endemic to Eswatini, with about 90% of its range located there. Our study indicates that S. barbertonensis sensu stricto is therefore a South African endemic restricted to an altitudinal band of about 300 m in the Barberton-Nelspruit-Khandizwe area of eastern Mpumalanga Province, while S. warreni is endemic to the narrow Lebombo Mountain range of South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. We present a detailed distribution map for the three species, and a revised diagnostic key to the genus Smaug.

Dataset Information

Taxonomic review of the Calotesversicolor complex (Agamidae, Sauria, Squamata) in China, with description of a new species and subspecies.

Publications

Taxonomic review of the <i>Calotesversicolor</i> complex (Agamidae, Sauria, Squamata) in China, with description of a new species and subspecies.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets

Dataset Information

Taxonomic review of the Calotesversicolor complex (Agamidae, Sauria, Squamata) in China, with description of a new species and subspecies.

Publications

﻿Taxonomic review of the <i>Calotesversicolor</i> complex (Agamidae, Sauria, Squamata) in China, with description of a new species and subspecies.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets

Taxonomic review of the <i>Calotesversicolor</i> complex (Agamidae, Sauria, Squamata) in China, with description of a new species and subspecies.