Re-examining the Systematics of Asian Pitvipers Via Multilocus Analysis

  • Robert Aldridge

    Research areas

  • MScRes, Systematics, phylogenetics, Multilocus, multilocus phylogeny, *BEAST, Trimeresurus, Viridovipera, Himalayophis, Popeia, Parias, Craspedocephalus, Peltopelor, Cryptelytrops, Protobothrops, Ovophis, mtDNA, nucDNA, mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA

Abstract

Crotalinae is a large and diverse subfamily that comprises approximately 70% of extant Viperidae species. Crotalinae includes the paraphyletic Asian pitvipers and the monophyletic New World pitvipers. The phylogeny and taxonomy of Asian pitvipers remains controversial, despite decades of study and major advances in the fields of genetics and bioinformatics. Widespread disagreement is present in the literature regarding the validity of both species and genera. Certain relationships have proven especially difficult to resolve, as different methodologies often produce contradictory, or inconclusive results. Typically, Asian pitviper phylogenies have been based on between one and four mitochondrial genes. The inclusion of nuclear genes has become more common, but the amount of this data is often severely limited. When this is not the case, the taxon sampling has typically either been sparse, or restricted to a single genus. Here, I present a multilocus phylogeny of Asian pitvipers, based on four mitochondrial genes and five nuclear CDS from 45 species representing 17 genera. The dataset used was relatively complete, with only 6.6% of genes missing from the analysis. Analyses supported the genera of the Trimeresurus radiation; Trimeresurus, Viridovipera, Himalayophis, Popeia, Parias and Craspedocephalus. The monotypic genus Peltopelor was not supported and should be synonymised with Craspedocephalus. Evidence of a previously unknown Popeia species from the western Malaysian peninsula and adjacent islands was found. The sister relationship of Trimeresurus gracilis and Ovophis okinavensis was found once again. they were also shown to form a genetically distinct clade, separate from other Ovophis species. However, the relationships between (T. gracilis, O. okinavensis), Gloydius, Ovophis, Protobothrops and the New World clade were not resolved with high confidence. Some results were inconclusive and significant incongruence was found between mitochondrial DNA and nuclear CDS trees. Changes to taxon sampling and genes used also resulted in substantive variation between the trees produced. This highlights the need for further research into the phylogeny of the Crotalinae, using more taxa, more loci, and new, innovative methodologies.

Details

Original languageEnglish
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Award date5 Jul 2021