Phylogenetic relationships of <i>D. rudis</i> (Bedriaga, 1886) and <i>D. bithynica</i>(Mehely, 1909) based on microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA in Turkey

<p>The spiny-tailed lizard of the genus <i>Darevskia</i> have a series of taxonomic revisions, but still their phylogenetic relationships remain uncertain. In the present study, we have assessed taxonomic relationships among <i>Darevskia bithynica</i> and <i>Darevskia rudis</i> populations through estimation of phylogenetic relationships among 96 specimens using microsatellite DNA (<i>Du215</i>, <i>Du281</i>, <i>Du323</i> and <i>Du418</i> loci) and 53 specimens using mtDNA (16S rRNA and cytb) from main populations in Turkey. Although <i>D. b. bithynica</i> and <i>D. r. mirabilis</i> were separated based on the PCoA analysis at low level from other <i>D. rudis</i> and <i>D. bithynica</i> populations, the distance values of Nei's genetic distance, Nei's unbiased genetic distance, Fst and Linear Fst were not high among taxa in microsatellite DNA. On the other hand, our phylogenetic analyses (NJ, ML, MP and BI) did not separate <i>D. rudis</i> and <i>D. bithynica</i> populations. Finally, most of the topologically identical trees of phylogenetic analyses and microsatellite results showed that the extant populations of <i>D. rudis</i> and <i>D. bithynica</i> were found to be polytomy. Based on our molecular phylogenetic study, <i>D. rudis</i> complex is still ongoing revisions.</p