A Re-analysis of the phylogeny of the genus Protobothrops (Reptilia: Viperidae), with particular reference to the systematic position of P. xiangchengensis
Keyword(s):
16S Rrna
◽
AbstractBased on three mitochondrial gene fragments (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, cytochrome b), the phylogeny of Protobothrops is re-analyzed using Maximum-parsimony (MP), Maximum-likelihood (ML), and Bayesian (BI) approaches. All phylogenetic analyses indicate that all putative Protobothrops species examined formed a monophyletic group; however, the intrageneric relationships are still unresolved. The phylogenetic relationships further confirm that P. xiangchengensis is a valid species distinct from P. mucrosquamatus and that it is closely related to P. jerdonii.