The Phylogenetic Relationships of Major Lizard Families Using Mitochondrial Genomes and Selection Pressure Analyses in Anguimorpha.

ABSTRACT: Anguimorpha, within the order Squamata, represents a group with distinct morphological and behavioral characteristics in different ecological niches among lizards. Within Anguimorpha, there is a group characterized by limb loss, occupying lower ecological niches, concentrated within the subfamily Anguinae. Lizards with limbs and those without exhibit distinct locomotor abilities when adapting to their habitats, which in turn necessitate varying degrees of energy expenditure. Mitochondria, known as the metabolic powerhouses of cells, play a crucial role in providing approximately 95% of an organism's energy. Functionally, mitogenomes (mitochondrial genomes) can serve as a valuable tool for investigating potential adaptive evolutionary selection behind limb loss in reptiles. Due to the varia

SUBMITTER: Zhan L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11312734 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature