Systematics of the Thirteen-scaled Green Snake Philothamnus carinatus (Squamata: Colubridae), with the description of a cryptic new species from Central and East Africa

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorGreenbaum, Eli
dc.contributor.authorPauwels, Olivier S. G.
dc.contributor.authorGvoždík, Václav
dc.contributor.authorVaughan, Eugene R
dc.contributor.authorChaney, Teslin
dc.contributor.authorBuontempo, Michael
dc.contributor.authorAristote, Mwenebatu M.
dc.contributor.authorMuninga, Wandege M.
dc.contributor.authorEngelbrecht, Hanlie M.
dc.date.accessioned2023-11-22T08:02:11Z
dc.date.available2023-11-22T08:02:11Z
dc.date.issued2023-11
dc.description.abstractAbstract Recent molecular phylogenies of African Green Snakes suggested the geographically widespread species Philothamnus carinatus includes at least two distinct lineages. We utilised an integrative taxonomic approach with morphological and genetic data to reconcile the taxonomic status of these cryptic lineages, including the recently described taxon P. brunneus from West Africa. We sequenced three mitochondrial (16S, cyt b and ND4) and two nuclear (c-mos and RAG1) genes from several Central African populations of P. carinatus and combined our data with other closely related species to infer a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree with IQ-TREE. Our results are consistent with previous studies that showed P. cf. carinatus populations from Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) represent a cryptic lineage that is distinct from P. carinatus sensu stricto in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea (including Bioko Island), Gabon, eastern Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, and extreme western DRC. In our preferred tree, P. brunneus (limited to 16S molecular data) was recovered as a relatively long branch in a moderately supported clade with P. carinatus sensu stricto, whereas P. cf. carinatus populations from northern Angola, most of DRC, and East Africa (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda) were described as a new species. A possible hybrid population between south-eastern Cameroon and north-western DRC is consistent with an increasing body of evidence suggesting the Ubangi River might represent a hybrid zone area.en_US
dc.identifier.citationGreenbaum, Eli, Olivier S. G. Pauwels, Václav Gvoždík, et al. 'Systematics of the Thirteen-Scaled Green Snake Philothamnus Carinatus (Squamata: Colubridae), with the Description of a Cryptic New Species from Central and East Africa', African Journal of Herpetology, vol. 72/no. 2, (2023), pp. 119-144.en_US
dc.identifier.issnISSN 2156-4574
dc.identifier.issnEISSN 2153-3660
dc.identifier.urihttps://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/9348
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherTaylor & Francisen_US
dc.subjectCongo River; Ubangi River;Congo Basin; endemismen_US
dc.titleSystematics of the Thirteen-scaled Green Snake Philothamnus carinatus (Squamata: Colubridae), with the description of a cryptic new species from Central and East Africaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Systematics of the Thirteen-scaled Green Snake Philothamnus carinatus Squamata Colubridae with the description of a cryptic new species from Centr.pdf
Size:
4.79 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Journal Article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Natural Sciences