A revision of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup supports three species in Cuba, including a new cryptic species (Squamata: Anolidae)

Abstract Cuba is the only landmass with more than one species in the Anolis carolinensis subgroup. We test the hypothesis that three rather than two distinct species occur on Cuba, based on substantial prior evidence of paraphyly. To test this hypothesis, we collected phenotypic data from a...

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Main Authors: Javier Torres, Dexter Reilly, Claudia Nuñez-Penichet, R. Graham Reynolds, Richard E. Glor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft 2025-04-01
Series:Vertebrate Zoology
Online Access:https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/152054/download/pdf/
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author Javier Torres
Dexter Reilly
Claudia Nuñez-Penichet
R. Graham Reynolds
Richard E. Glor
author_facet Javier Torres
Dexter Reilly
Claudia Nuñez-Penichet
R. Graham Reynolds
Richard E. Glor
author_sort Javier Torres
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cuba is the only landmass with more than one species in the Anolis carolinensis subgroup. We test the hypothesis that three rather than two distinct species occur on Cuba, based on substantial prior evidence of paraphyly. To test this hypothesis, we collected phenotypic data from all described species in the subgroup, including eastern and west-central Cuban populations of A. porcatus, and assessed phenotypic diagnosability using uni- and multivariate analyses. We also examined geographic isolation using all available occurrence records for Cuban lineages. Additionally, we conducted ecological niche modeling and niche overlap analyses, considering only Cuban lineages, to test for ecological differentiation. Finally, we reconstructed phylogenetic trees, incorporating all species from the subgroup for the first time. Our results support the recognition of three species in Cuba: A. allisoni and eastern and west-central A. porcatus as two distinct cryptic species, showing minimal phenotypic differentiation but clear geographic isolation, distinct ecological niches, and deep genetic divergence. We restrict the name A. porcatus to west-central Cuba, with Havana as the type locality, and formally describe the eastern Cuban populations as Anolis torresfundorai sp. nov., designating Baracoa, Guantánamo, as the type locality.
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issn 2625-8498
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series Vertebrate Zoology
spelling doaj-art-f7024c675d564bf7b6029ee72fbdb5a22025-08-20T03:14:38ZengPensoftVertebrate Zoology2625-84982025-04-017510712610.3897/vz.75.e152054152054A revision of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup supports three species in Cuba, including a new cryptic species (Squamata: Anolidae)Javier Torres0Dexter Reilly1Claudia Nuñez-Penichet2R. Graham Reynolds3Richard E. Glor4University of KansasUniversity of KansasUniversity of KansasUniversity of North Carolina AshevilleUniversity of KansasAbstract Cuba is the only landmass with more than one species in the Anolis carolinensis subgroup. We test the hypothesis that three rather than two distinct species occur on Cuba, based on substantial prior evidence of paraphyly. To test this hypothesis, we collected phenotypic data from all described species in the subgroup, including eastern and west-central Cuban populations of A. porcatus, and assessed phenotypic diagnosability using uni- and multivariate analyses. We also examined geographic isolation using all available occurrence records for Cuban lineages. Additionally, we conducted ecological niche modeling and niche overlap analyses, considering only Cuban lineages, to test for ecological differentiation. Finally, we reconstructed phylogenetic trees, incorporating all species from the subgroup for the first time. Our results support the recognition of three species in Cuba: A. allisoni and eastern and west-central A. porcatus as two distinct cryptic species, showing minimal phenotypic differentiation but clear geographic isolation, distinct ecological niches, and deep genetic divergence. We restrict the name A. porcatus to west-central Cuba, with Havana as the type locality, and formally describe the eastern Cuban populations as Anolis torresfundorai sp. nov., designating Baracoa, Guantánamo, as the type locality.https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/152054/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Javier Torres
Dexter Reilly
Claudia Nuñez-Penichet
R. Graham Reynolds
Richard E. Glor
A revision of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup supports three species in Cuba, including a new cryptic species (Squamata: Anolidae)
Vertebrate Zoology
title A revision of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup supports three species in Cuba, including a new cryptic species (Squamata: Anolidae)
title_full A revision of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup supports three species in Cuba, including a new cryptic species (Squamata: Anolidae)
title_fullStr A revision of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup supports three species in Cuba, including a new cryptic species (Squamata: Anolidae)
title_full_unstemmed A revision of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup supports three species in Cuba, including a new cryptic species (Squamata: Anolidae)
title_short A revision of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup supports three species in Cuba, including a new cryptic species (Squamata: Anolidae)
title_sort revision of the anolis carolinensis subgroup supports three species in cuba including a new cryptic species squamata anolidae
url https://vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/152054/download/pdf/
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