Phylogenetic relationships of the genus Sibynophis (Serpentes: Colubroidea)

Submitted by Vitor Silverio Rodrigues (vitorsrodrigues@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2014-05-27T11:26:50Z No. of bitstreams: 0Bitstream added on 2014-05-27T14:36:46Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 2-s2.0-84861946400.pdf: 2997909 bytes, checksum: a38aadf82faaf64f3188ad2415a9d15a (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-27T11:26:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-06-12 We present the results of the first molecular analysis of the phylogenetic affinities of the Asian colubroid genus Sibynophis. We recovered a sister-group relationship between Sibynophis and the New World Scaphiodontophis. Although Liophidium sometimes is associated with these genera, the relationship is distant. Morphological characters that Liophidium shares with Sibynophis and Scaphiodontophis are resolved as homoplasies that probably reflect the similarities of their specialized feeding habits. The traditional subfamily Sibynophiinae is elevated to the family-level, and Scaphiodontophiinae is placed in its synonymy. Museu de Zoologia Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 42.494, 04218-970, São Paulo, SP Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, SP Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources Yunnan University, Kunming 650091 State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223 Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, M5S 2C6 Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, SP