Systematics and evolutionary relationships of the mountain lizard Liolaemus monticola (Liolaemini): how morphological and molecular evidence contributes to reveal hidden species diversity

• Published in: Biological journal of the Linnean Society Vol. 96; no. 3; pp. 635 - 650
• Main Authors: TORRES-PÉREZ, FERNANDO, MÉNDEZ, MARCO A, BENAVIDES, EDGAR, MORENO, RODRIGO A, LAMBOROT, MADELEINE, PALMA, R. EDUARDO, ORTIZ, JUAN CARLOS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2009; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: allozymes; Amphibia. Reptilia; Andean range; Biological and medical sciences; Biological evolution; biometric data; Chile; cytochrome b gene; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Lacertilia; Liolaemus; meristic data; molecular phylogeny; polytypic species; species delimitation; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Chile; South America; America; Biometrics; species delimitation; Biological evolution; Andean range; cytochrome b gene; allozymes; Allozyme; Phylogeny; polytypic species; Biodiversity; meristic data; biometric data; Species diversity; Vertebrata; Cytochrome b; Sauria; Gene; Mountain; Morphology; molecular phylogeny; Reptilia; Molecular systematics; Chile
• ISSN: 0024-4066; 1095-8312
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2008.01140.x

The delimitation of species is a major issue in systematic biology and has been a re-emerging discipline in the last decade. A number of studies have shown that the use of multiple data sets is critical for the identification of cryptic species, particularly in groups with complex evolutionary histories. Liolaemus monticola is a montane lizard species distributed in central Chile (32°-42°S), with four described subspecies in a latitudinal gradient from north to south: L. m. monticola, L. m. chillanensis, L. monticola ssp. and L. m. villaricensis. In order to test the systematic status and phylogenetic relationships of the taxa included in the L. monticola group, we analysed morphological (morphometric and meristic) and molecular (allozyme and mitochondrial DNA) data sets. The results of the morphological analyses showed that meristic variables correctly assigned individuals with higher accuracy than did morphometric characters. The results of the analyses of allozyme data revealed eight diagnostic loci that are evidence for significant differences among the four L. monticola subspecies. Phylogenetic analyses with mitochondrial DNA data, including additional species, showed that the L. monticola group is polyphyletic. We postulate that the four current subspecies represent independent evolutionary lineages and must be raised to the specific level as L. monticola, L. chillanensis and L. villaricensis. The taxonomic status of the unnamed L. monticola ssp. remains unresolved, although we provide a preliminary proposal.