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New insights into the systematics and molecular phylogeny of the Malagasy snake genus Liopholidophis suggest at least one rapid reversal of extreme sexual dimorphism in tail length

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Abstract

The pseudoxyrhophiine snake genus Liopholidophis Mocquard, 1904 (family Lamprophiidae) is endemic to Madagascar and according to its present definition comprises six medium-sized, terrestrial and diurnal snake species, most of which are characterised by an unusual and extreme sexual dimorphism in tail length. We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses using nucleotide sequences of three mitochondrial genes (16S rRNA, cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase I) and one nuclear gene (c-mos) for all described and two additional species newly described herein. The two new species are very small sized (total length: 234–312.5 mm), have comparatively short tails and a reduced number of dorsal scale rows (15 at midbody), the lowest value among all non-scolecophidian snakes of Madagascar. Both species are secretive or rare, and they have a reddish belly in life that fades in preservative. In terms of colouration and morphology, they are most similar to each other and furthermore to Liopholidophis rhadinaea. Together with this species and L. dimorphus, they form a well-supported clade. Liopholidophis baderi sp. nov. from central eastern Madagascar is characterised by 149–158 ventrals and 71–77 subcaudals, whereas the similar L. oligolepis sp. nov. from the northeast has even fewer ventrals (137) and subcaudals (54). The phylogenetic tree suggests that the tail length dimorphism in the genus Liopholidophis has evolved in a complex pattern including at least one reversal. The phylogenetic position of the two new dwarf species indicates that both the absence of extreme sexual dimorphism in tail length and their body size reduction are derived and probably correlated features. Also the close phylogenetic relationships between the long-tailed L. sexlineatus and the similar but relatively short-tailed L. varius demonstrate that dimorphism in tail length can be strongly mitigated in short evolutionary time periods.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Philip-Sebastian Gehring, Jörn Köhler, Konrad Mebert, Maciej Pabijan, Roger-Daniel Randrianiaina and David R. Vieites for their help in the field, Rainer Dolch for sharing his knowledge of the snakes of the Andasibe region, and Wolfgang Böhme (ZFMK) and Ivan Ineich (MNHN) for the loan of snakes. Many thanks to Ruth Kühbandner (ZSM) for the excellent head drawings of the new species. We are grateful to the Madagascan authorities for research and export permits. The fieldwork was supported by the Volkswagen Stiftung.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Münchhausenstrasse 21, 81247, München, Germany

    Frank Glaw & Oliver Hawlitschek

  2. Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity, Invalidenstr. 43, 10115, Berlin, Germany

    Christoph Kucharzewski

  3. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, JEMU, Rue Vautier 29, 1000, Brussels, Belgium

    Zoltán T. Nagy

  4. Division of Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstr. 4, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany

    Miguel Vences

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  1. Frank Glaw
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Correspondence to Frank Glaw.

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Glaw, F., Kucharzewski, C., Nagy, Z.T. et al. New insights into the systematics and molecular phylogeny of the Malagasy snake genus Liopholidophis suggest at least one rapid reversal of extreme sexual dimorphism in tail length. Org Divers Evol 14, 121–132 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-013-0152-4

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