One lizard, four species: the collared treerunner
Chris Samoray, special to mongabay.com
January 21, 2014
January 21, 2014
Now, that’s a horse of a different color. Or, in this case, a lizard of
another species—four species.
Recent research suggests that the collared treerunner (Plica plica), previously thought of as one widespread species, is actually four distinct species inhabiting diverse geographical areas east of the Andes in northern South America.
“The four new species described here all appear to be associated with areas of endemism or specific features of the northern South American landscape,” write John Murphy of Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History and Michael Jowers of the Estación Biológica de Doñana in Spain in their article published in ZooKeys.
Recent research suggests that the collared treerunner (Plica plica), previously thought of as one widespread species, is actually four distinct species inhabiting diverse geographical areas east of the Andes in northern South America.
“The four new species described here all appear to be associated with areas of endemism or specific features of the northern South American landscape,” write John Murphy of Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History and Michael Jowers of the Estación Biológica de Doñana in Spain in their article published in ZooKeys.
Collared treerunners were originally described in 1758. Since then,
populations hailing from the Amazon Basin to Trinidad and Tobago have been
tagged one and the same—a single species. The researchers assessed both
morphological and genetic features of collared treerunners, and found
disparities implying that Plica plica is more than one species. Scale
rows on their backs were used as one such indicator. Lizards from Trinidad had,
on average, 110-125 rows, while those from the middle Orinoco region in
Colombia and Venezuela had 180-202 rows. These row counts differ from the
lizard considered the original species of collared treerunner, which has
126-140 rows.
Additionally, genetic markers were analyzed. Results show that Trinidad lizards are 4.4 percent genetically different than their counterparts from Peru, 4.5 percent from those of Venezuela and 5.1 percent from those of Brazil. In comparison, humans and orangutans have a genetic difference of 3.1 percent.
The variation can be attributed to population isolations due to geographical barriers. After separating, the populations inbred and certain morphological and genetic characteristics became more or less pronounced, eventually spawning a new species.
While recent estimates tallied the total number of species on Earth at 8.7 million, the specific number is ever-fluctuating, as is evidenced by this study. But revealing hidden species such as those within the collared treerunner group can contribute to our greater understanding of the complexities of life on Earth.
“The discovery and description of cryptic species gives us a better understanding of evolution and makes people aware that the diversity of life is greater than what we currently think it is,” said Murphy. “It is probably possible to at least double or triple the number of squamate [snakes and lizards] reptiles known today.”
Citation: Murphy, J. & Jowers, M. (2013). Treerunners, cryptic lizards of the Plica plica group (Squamata, Sauria, Tropiduridae) of northern South America. ZooKeys, 355: 49-77.
http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0121-samoray-new-treerunner-lizards.html
Additionally, genetic markers were analyzed. Results show that Trinidad lizards are 4.4 percent genetically different than their counterparts from Peru, 4.5 percent from those of Venezuela and 5.1 percent from those of Brazil. In comparison, humans and orangutans have a genetic difference of 3.1 percent.
The variation can be attributed to population isolations due to geographical barriers. After separating, the populations inbred and certain morphological and genetic characteristics became more or less pronounced, eventually spawning a new species.
While recent estimates tallied the total number of species on Earth at 8.7 million, the specific number is ever-fluctuating, as is evidenced by this study. But revealing hidden species such as those within the collared treerunner group can contribute to our greater understanding of the complexities of life on Earth.
“The discovery and description of cryptic species gives us a better understanding of evolution and makes people aware that the diversity of life is greater than what we currently think it is,” said Murphy. “It is probably possible to at least double or triple the number of squamate [snakes and lizards] reptiles known today.”
Citation: Murphy, J. & Jowers, M. (2013). Treerunners, cryptic lizards of the Plica plica group (Squamata, Sauria, Tropiduridae) of northern South America. ZooKeys, 355: 49-77.
http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0121-samoray-new-treerunner-lizards.html
