A genetically confirmed hybrid between Natrix astreptophora and N. maura, two deeply divergent and ancient snake species
Using two mitochondrial DNA fragments and six nuclear genes, we confirmed that a morphologically intermediate snake, captured in Andalusia, southwestern Spain (municipality of Huelva), was an F1 hybrid between a female Natrix astreptophora and a male N. maura. The two parental species diverged 21.5...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Herpetozoa |
| Online Access: | https://herpetozoa.pensoft.net/article/140551/download/pdf/ |
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| author | Andrea Criado-Flórez Juan Pablo González de la Vega Gabriel Martínez del Marmol Uwe Fritz |
| author_facet | Andrea Criado-Flórez Juan Pablo González de la Vega Gabriel Martínez del Marmol Uwe Fritz |
| author_sort | Andrea Criado-Flórez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Using two mitochondrial DNA fragments and six nuclear genes, we confirmed that a morphologically intermediate snake, captured in Andalusia, southwestern Spain (municipality of Huelva), was an F1 hybrid between a female Natrix astreptophora and a male N. maura. The two parental species diverged 21.5 million years ago, which is why their capability to hybridize is remarkable. The interspecific mating could have been facilitated by the rarity of N. astreptophora and the abundance of N. maura in southwestern Spain, making it difficult for N. astreptophora females to find conspecific males. In the face of previously published genomic signatures for ancient gene flow between N. astreptophora and N. maura, our finding raises the question of whether occasional hybridization still contributes to a continued exchange of genetic information between these two deeply divergent and old taxa. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8a07733c9cb949c292f945b05f0e17f8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2682-955X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Herpetozoa |
| spelling | doaj-art-8a07733c9cb949c292f945b05f0e17f82025-02-05T08:30:57ZengPensoft PublishersHerpetozoa2682-955X2025-02-0138212410.3897/herpetozoa.38.e140551140551A genetically confirmed hybrid between Natrix astreptophora and N. maura, two deeply divergent and ancient snake speciesAndrea Criado-Flórez0Juan Pablo González de la Vega1Gabriel Martínez del Marmol2Uwe Fritz3Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg DresdenAtlas Herpetológico de AndalucíaUnaffiliatedMuseum of Zoology, Senckenberg DresdenUsing two mitochondrial DNA fragments and six nuclear genes, we confirmed that a morphologically intermediate snake, captured in Andalusia, southwestern Spain (municipality of Huelva), was an F1 hybrid between a female Natrix astreptophora and a male N. maura. The two parental species diverged 21.5 million years ago, which is why their capability to hybridize is remarkable. The interspecific mating could have been facilitated by the rarity of N. astreptophora and the abundance of N. maura in southwestern Spain, making it difficult for N. astreptophora females to find conspecific males. In the face of previously published genomic signatures for ancient gene flow between N. astreptophora and N. maura, our finding raises the question of whether occasional hybridization still contributes to a continued exchange of genetic information between these two deeply divergent and old taxa.https://herpetozoa.pensoft.net/article/140551/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Criado-Flórez Juan Pablo González de la Vega Gabriel Martínez del Marmol Uwe Fritz A genetically confirmed hybrid between Natrix astreptophora and N. maura, two deeply divergent and ancient snake species Herpetozoa |
| title | A genetically confirmed hybrid between Natrix astreptophora and N. maura, two deeply divergent and ancient snake species |
| title_full | A genetically confirmed hybrid between Natrix astreptophora and N. maura, two deeply divergent and ancient snake species |
| title_fullStr | A genetically confirmed hybrid between Natrix astreptophora and N. maura, two deeply divergent and ancient snake species |
| title_full_unstemmed | A genetically confirmed hybrid between Natrix astreptophora and N. maura, two deeply divergent and ancient snake species |
| title_short | A genetically confirmed hybrid between Natrix astreptophora and N. maura, two deeply divergent and ancient snake species |
| title_sort | genetically confirmed hybrid between natrix astreptophora and n maura two deeply divergent and ancient snake species |
| url | https://herpetozoa.pensoft.net/article/140551/download/pdf/ |
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