Phylogeography of the night lizard, Xantusia henshawi, in southern California: Evolution across fault zones

作者：Lovich R^*

来源：Herpetologica, 2001, 57(4): 470-487.

• Xantusia henshawi
• granite night lizard
• Xantusia gracilis
• sandstone night lizard
• truckhaven rocks
• fault zone
• granodiorite
• exclusivity

I analyzed intraspecific relationships, biogeography, and taxonomy of Xantusia henshawi occurring in southern California by constructing a gene tree phylogeny using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data from the cytochrome b region. Three well-supported haploclades show high degrees of sequence divergence in contrast to a generally conservative morphology. Fault zones and their associated habitat features in the form of fault valleys, canyons, and arroyos geographically separate the different gene tree haploclades. This suggests that the evolution of X. henshawi is tied to the occurrence of stable exfoliating granitic features that are lacking in riparian and flood plain corridors. Sequence data indicate that X. h. gracilis evolved from within one of the three haploclades of X. henshawi and represents an exclusive lineage. Xantusia henshawi remains non-exclusive. Under the evolutionary species concept, results of this study in combination with those of previous studies warrant the elevation of X. h. gracilis tu full species. This study has assisted in hypothesizing previously unknown barriers to gene flow that have contributed to the evolution of X. henshawi and X. gracilis.

• 出版日期2001-12