Molecular Systematics and Biogeographical History of Pitvipers as Determined by Mitochondrial Ribosomal DNA Sequences

• DOI: 10.2307/1447591
• Publication Date: 2006-04-26T14:20:16Z
• Authors: Christopher L. Pa...
• Keywords: Molecular Phylogenetics

Systematics of the snake subfamily Crotalinae (Serpentes: Viperidae) were investigated by means mtDNA (12S and 16S rDNA sequences); 45 species, which included all genera, sequenced analyzed using both maximum parsimony (MP) likelihood (ML) as optimality criteria. Differential a priori weighting methods employed, because there was transition bias within data. All analyses support Azemiops feae sister to monophyletic Crotalinae. The New World pitvipers are monophyletic, but identification their group is unclear. These data suggest single invasion into North America, subsequent north temperate tropical divergence, at least three invasions South America. currently proposed Central American genera (excluding Crotalus) valid. Crotalus paraphyletic with regard Sistrurus, Bothrops respect Bothriopsis. Inclusion Porthidium melanurum in Ophryacus supported. Old Protobothrops perhaps most basal crotaline. This, along monophyly, suggests that evolved Eurasia. monophyletic; thus, 19 recognized URRENTLY, family Viperidae contains subfamilies: monotypic Azemiopinae, Viperinae (including Causus), (Cadle, 1987; McDowell,