Early Miocene origin and cryptic diversification of South American salamanders.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The currently recognized species richness of South American salamanders is surprisingly low compared to North and Central America. In part, this low richness may be due to the salamanders being a recent arrival to South America. Additionally, the number of South American salamander species may be underestimated because of cryptic diversity. The aims of our present study were to infer evolutionary relationships, lineage diversity, and timing of divergence of the South American Bolitoglossa using mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data from specimens primarily from localities in the Andes and upper Amazon Basin. We also estimated time of colonization of South America to test whether it is consistent with arrival via the Panamanian Isthmus, or land bridge connection, at its

SUBMITTER: Elmer KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3602097 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature