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Abstract
Molecular variation within Ctenosaura hemilopha and among other Ctenosaura species are used to identify species boundaries, assess suitable systematic characters, identify evolutionary patterns within C. hemilopha mitochondrial DNA sequences and reconstruct species and area relationships among the various taxa. The molecular evolution of the C. hemilopha complex is analyzed using 1109 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA sequence from the cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase III genes. Samples come from 22 individuals representing each of the five allopatric populations.
The results of a parsimony analysis showed a strongly supported, partially resolved set of relationships. The strict consenses tee formed in this analysis resulted in a gene tree that is comprised of two well-supported basal haploclades, A and B. The most basal haploclade (A) includes all individuals from Islas San Esteban and Cholludo (C. conspicuosa) and three of the five individuals from Isla San Pedro Nolasco (C. nolascensis). Haploclade B includes all individuals from mainland Sonora (C. macrolopha), Baja California (C. hemilopha), Isla Cerralvo (C. hemilopha (insulana)), and the remaining two samples from Isla San Pedro Nolasco. The anomalous positions of the C. nolascensissamples as well as the positions of each of other populations within the complex are discussed for their informativeness and possible relationship to the most recent hypotheses developed concerning Iguanid relationships
