Mitochondrial DNA Variability withinUromastyx ornata philbyi(Agamidae: Squamata) from Southwestern Saudi Arabia
Approximately 2.4 kbp of mitochondrial DNA was sequenced from 9 individuals ofUromastyx ornata philbyioriginating from Taif, Namas, Al-Baha, and Jazan in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The sequenced regions cover eight tRNA genes (tRNAGln,tRNAIle,tRNAMet,tRNATrp,tRNAAla,tRNAAsn,tRNACys, andtRNATyr) and two protein-coding genes (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 and cytochromeb).U. ornata philbyihad an insertion of 170 bp length betweentRNAGlnandtRNAIlegenes. The first 128 bp of this insertion was similar to the one identified earlier inU. ornata ornataand can be folded into a stem-and-loop structure, which was less stable inU. ornata philbyithan inU. ornata ornata, or the secondtRNAGlngene. The next 42 bp of the insertion was unique inU. ornata philbyiand additionally retained a stable stem-and-loop structure. Most base substitutions found in the sequenced genes were synonymous transitions rather than transversions. Tree analyses supported the sister group relationship between the twoU. ornatasubspecies and dividedU. ornata philbyiinto two groups: Taif+Namas group in the east of Sarawat and Al-Baha+Jazan group in the west of Sarawat. These molecular data are in agreement with current classification ofU. ornata.