Phylogeny and divergence times of filesnakes (Acrochordus): Inferences from morphology, fossils and three molecular loci

dc.contributor.authorSanders, K.
dc.contributor.authorMumpuni,
dc.contributor.authorHamidy, A.
dc.contributor.authorHead, J.
dc.contributor.authorGower, D.
dc.date.issued2010
dc.description.abstractAcrochordus is a species-poor but highly distinctive aquatic snake genus currently distributed from India to the western edge of the Pacific. We provide the first phylogeny for the three extant species using Bayesian and parsimony analyses of one mitochondrial and two nuclear gene sequences. Acrochordus javanicus is strongly recovered as sister to A. arafurae+A. granulatus, counter to expectations from superficial ecology, external phenotype and former taxonomy. We review and revise key fossil calibrations for dating snake divergences. Bayesian relaxed-clock analysis of the two nuclear loci yields deep interspecific divergences among extant species that occurred during the Miocene approximately 16 and approximately 20Mya (million years ago), pre-dating at least two of the three other living marine snake lineages. New morphological data for A. arafurae, and our molecular timescale, provide support for the placement of fossil taxon A. dehmi within the Acrochordus crown group, as sister to A. javanicus among nominate species. Finally, Acrochordus phylogeny provides an improved basis for taxon selection and character polarization in higher snake phylogenetics. Our study highlights the three Acrochordus species as old and highly distinct lineages that comprise an important component of the threatened Indo-Australian biodiversity.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityKate L. Sanders, Mumpuni, Amir Hamidy, Jason J. Head, David J. Gower
dc.identifier.citationMolecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2010; 56(3):857-867
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.ympev.2010.04.031
dc.identifier.issn1055-7903
dc.identifier.issn1095-9513
dc.identifier.orcidSanders, K. [0000-0002-9581-268X]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/65111
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAcademic Press Inc Elsevier Science
dc.rightsCrown Copyright © 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2010.04.031
dc.subjectAcrochordus
dc.subjectBayesian
dc.subjectRelaxed-clock
dc.subjectPhylogeny
dc.subjectMorphology
dc.subjectFossil
dc.subjectSnake
dc.titlePhylogeny and divergence times of filesnakes (Acrochordus): Inferences from morphology, fossils and three molecular loci
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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