Phylogenetic relationships of the Canary Islands endemic lizard genus Gallotia (Sauria: Lacertidae), inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships among species and subspecies of the Canary Island endemic lizard genus Gallotia are inferred based on nucleotide sequences of fragments of 12S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome b mitochondrial genes. The four morphologically established species have also been recognized at the molecular level. Relative affinities among species follow an eastern-western geographic transect. The nearly extinct species Gallotia simonyi from the most western island of El Hierro is closely related to the common western species Gallotia galloti, the nearest branch to this pair is Gallotia stehlini from the central island of Gram Canaria, and finally, Gallotia atlantica from the two eastern and geologically oldest islands appears as the most distantly related species of the group. At the statistical level, four subspecies can be recognized in G. galloti, but only two in G. atlantica.