Molecular phylogeography, intraspecific variation and speciation of the Asian scincid lizard genus Eutropis Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Reptilia: Scincidae): taxonomic and biogeographic implications

AbstractThe phylogeography, intraspecific variation and speciation processes of the South East Asian scincid lizard genus Eutropis Fitzinger are investigated, based on a combined analysis of 564 bp and 408 bp fragments, respectively, of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and 12S rRNA genes. Our results show that the Middle East species definitely do not belong to Eutropis but instead to the African genus Euprepis Fitzinger, and that Euprepis auratus (L.) and E. septemtaeniatus Reuss represent distinct species. In addition, we clarify systematics of the genus Apterygodon Edeling, supposed to be derived from within Eutropis. We show that Apterygodon does not reflect a true genealogical unit, and consequently synonymize it with Dasia Gray.We found strong evidence for the monophyly of the South East Asian genus Eutropis. Within Eutropis we could substantiate the systematics of Eutropis multifasciata (Kuhl), and confirm that the distinction of a subspecies E. m. balinensis Mertens is not justified. Likewise, our results point out the necessity of further studies concerning the Eutropis macularia complex in which at least two different species are concealed under the name E. macularia (Blyth). We show that the Philippine-Palauan Eutropis species are part of a distinct radiation, probably representing an unrecognized taxonomic unit. We draw conclusions on zoogeographical aspects of dispersal routes in Eutropis, showing that the Philippines have been colonized from mainland Asia rather than via Borneo. Furthermore we outline a possible colonization scenario for the species on the Philippines and Palau