101. Evolution and biogeography of the genus Tarentola(Sauria: Gekkonidae) in the Canary Islands, inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences
- Author
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Nogales, M., López, M., Jiménez‐Asensio, J., Larruga, J. M., Hernández, M., and González, P.
- Abstract
Sequences from fragments of the 12S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome bmitochondrial genes were used to analyze phylogenetic relationships among geckos of genus Tarentolafrom the Canary Islands. A surprisingly high level of within island differentiation was found in T. delalandiiin Tenerife and T. boettgeriin Gran Canaria. Molecular differentiation between populations of T. angustimentalison Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, and between Moroccan and Iberian Peninsula T. mauritanica, also indicate that at least two subspecies should be recognized within each of them. Phylogenetic relationships among these species reveals a higher level of differentiation and a more complex colonization pattern than those found for the endemic genus Gallotia. Lack of evidence for the presence of T. boettgeri bischoffion the island of Madeira does not seem to support the origin of T. delalandii, T. gomerensisand the canarian subspecies of T. boettgerifrom this island, whereas molecular data confirms that T. angustimentalisis a sister species of the continental T. mauritanica. Several independent colonization events from the continent and the extinction of some species are probably responsible for the current distribution of Tarentolain the Canary Islands.
- Published
- 1998
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