| Pedioplanis benguellensis (BOCAGE, 1867) Pedioplanis branchi CHILDERS & KIRCHHOF & BAUER, 2021 Pedioplanis breviceps (STERNFELD, 1911) Pedioplanis burchelli (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1839) Pedioplanis gaerdesi (MERTENS, 1954) Pedioplanis haackei CONRADIE et al., 2012 Pedioplanis huntleyi CONRADIE et al., 2012 Pedioplanis husabensis BERGER-DELL´MOUR & MAYER, 1989 Pedioplanis inornata (ROUX, 1907) Pedioplanis laticeps (SMITH, 1845) Pedioplanis lineoocellata (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1839) Pedioplanis mayeri CHILDERS & KIRCHHOF & BAUER, 2021 Pedioplanis namaquensis (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1839) Pedioplanis rubens (MERTENS, 1954) Pedioplanis serodioi PARRINHA et al., 2021 Pedioplanis undata (SMITH, 1838) |
Fitzinger, L.I. (1843) - II. Sectio. Coelodontes. Dum. Bibr. - In: Systema Reptilium, Fasciculus Primus: Amblyglossae. Braumüller & Seidl, Wien: 20-21.  Makokha, J.S. & Bauer, A.M. & Mayer, W. & Matthee, C.A. (2007) - Nuclear and mtDNA-based phylogeny of southern African sand lizards, Pedioplanis (Sauria: Lacertidae). - Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 44 (2): 622-633.   × The diversity of lacertid lizards in Africa is highest in the southern African subcontinent, where over two-thirds of the species are endemic. With eleven currently recognized species, Pedioplanis is the most diverse among the southern African genera. In this study we use 2200 nucleotide positions derived from two mitochondrial markers (ND2 and 16S rRNA) and one nuclear gene (RAG-1) to (i) assess the phylogeny of Pedioplanis and (ii) estimate divergence time among lineages using the relaxed molecular clock method. Individual analyses of each gene separately supported different nodes in the phylogeny and the combined analysis yielded more well supported relationships. We present the first, well-resolved gene tree for the genus Pedioplanis and this is largely congruent with a phylogeny derived from morphology. Contrary to previous suggestions Heliobolus/Nucras are sister to Pedioplanis. The genus Pedioplanis is monophyletic, with P. burchelli/P. laticeps forming a clade that is sister to all the remaining congeners. Two distinct geographic lineages can be identified within the widespread P. namaquensis; one occurs in Namibia, while the other occurs in South Africa. The P. undata species complex is monophyletic, but one of its constituent species, P. inornata, is paraphyletic. Relationships among the subspecies of P. lineoocellata are much more complex than previously documented. An isolated population previously assigned to P. l. pulchella is paraphyletic and sister to the three named subspecies. The phylogeny identifies two biogeographical clades that probably diverged during the mid-Miocene, after the development of the Benguella Current. This probably led to habitat changes associated with climate and, in conjunction with physical barriers (Great Escarpment), contributed towards speciation within the genus Pedioplanis. Conradie, W. & Measey, G.J. & Branch, W.R. & Tolley, K. (2012) - Revised phylogeny of African sand lizards (Pedioplanis), with the description of two new species from south-western Angola - African Journal of Herpetology, Johannesburg, South Africa, 61 (2): 1-22. × Although reptile diversity in Africa is high, it is poorly represented in Angola, with just 257 species known. Despite its greater surface area and habitat diversity Angola has significantly lower lacertid lizard diversity than adjacent Namibia. This is particularly notable in African sand lizards (Pedioplanis), where 10 species (two endemic) are known from Namibia but only two are recorded from adjacent Angola. Pedioplanis benguelensis was described from Angola, but its taxonomic status is problematic and it was previously synonymised with P. namaquensis. All other Angolan Pedioplanis were referred to Namibian P. undata, although this taxon is now known to comprise a complex of at least five different species and the relationship of Angolan material to this complex has not been assessed. In this study, we investigated the phylogenetic placement of Angolan Pedioplanis using two mitochondrial (ND2 and 16S) and one nuclear (RAG-1) markers. A Bayesian analysis was conducted on 21 samples from Angola, combined with existing data for 45 individuals from GenBank and three additional samples from central Namibia. The phylogeny demonstrates that P. benguelensis is a valid species and that it is not the sister taxon to P. namaquensis with which it has been morphologically confused. In addition, Angolan lacertids previously referred to P. undata are not conspecific with any of the Namibian or South African species in that complex. Rather, there is strong support for the presence in Angola of additional species of Pedioplanis, which form a wellsupported sister clade to the P. undata complex (sensu stricto) of Namibia and two ofwhich are described herein. These discoveries highlight the need for further biodiversity surveys in
Angola, as similar increases in species diversity in other Angolan taxa might be found given sufficient investment in biodiversity surveys. Engleder, A. & Haring, E. & Kirchhof, S. & Mayer, W. (2013) - Multiple nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences provide new insights into the phylogeny of South African Lacertids (Lacertidae, Eremiadinae). - Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, Berlin, 51 (2): 132-143. × Eremiadinae, one of three subfamilies of Lacertidae, are distributed throughout Asia and Africa. Previous phylogenetic studies suggested that one of
the main groups of Eremiadinae (the Ethiopian clade) consist of two clades with predominately East-African and South-African distribution. Yet, especially
the latter one, which includes the genera Pedioplanis, Meroles, Ichnotropis, Tropidosaura and Australolacerta, was not well supported in the
molecular phylogenetic analysis. In this study, we analysed the phylogenetic relationships among the genera of the ‘South African clade’ to assess
whether this group actually forms a highly supported clade and to address questions concerning the monophyly of the genera. We sequenced sections
of the widely used mitochondrial genes coding for 16S rRNA, 12S rRNA and cytochrome b (altogether 2045 bp) as well as the nuclear genes c-mos,
RAG-1, PRLR, KIF24, EXPH5 and RAG-2 (altogether 4473 bp). The combined data set increased the support values for several nodes considerably.
Yet, the relationships among five major lineages within the ‘South African clade’ are not clearly resolved even with this large data set. We interpret
this as a ‘hard polytomy’ due to fast radiation within the South African lacertids. The combined tree based on nine marker genes provides strong support
for the ‘South African Clade’ and its sister group relationship with the ‘East African Clade’. Our results confirm the genus Tropidosaura as a
monophylum, while Ichnotropis is paraphyletic in our trees: Ichnotropis squamulosa appears more closely related to Meroles than to Ichnotropis capensis.
Furthermore, the monophyly of Meroles is questionable as well. Based on our results, I. squamulosa should be transferred from Ichnotropis into
the genus Meroles. Also, the two species of Australolacerta (A. australis and A. rupicola) are very distantly related and the genus is perhaps paraphyletic,
too. Finally we propose a phylogeographical scenario in the context of palaeoclimatic data and compare it with a previously postulated hypothesis.
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