Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Calotes and Uromastyx in the Cholistan Desert, Pakistan, based on COI gene analysis.

ABSTRACT: The Cholistan Desert of Pakistan harbors unique reptile diversity, including ecologically significant agamid lizards of the genera Calotes and Uromastyx, yet their genetic structure remains poorly understood. This study presents the first mitochondrial DNA barcode assessment of these taxa in the region, analyzing 658 bp of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene from 19 specimens collected across seven desert sites. We employed a combination of distance-based (p-distance, K2P) and phylogenetic methods (Maximum Likelihood, Bayesian Inference) to evaluate genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships. Results revealed pronounced divergence between genera (24-30% K2P distance), with Uromastyx populations showing remarkably low intraspecific variation (0-1%), contrasting with higher diversity

SUBMITTER: Hussain J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12173366 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature