Authors
Michele Menegon, Simon P Loader, Stuart J Marsden, Wiliam R Branch, Tim RB Davenport, Sylvain Ursenbacher
Publication date
2014/10/1
Journal
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Volume
79
Pages
12-22
Publisher
Academic Press
Description
Past climatic and tectonic events are believed to have strongly influenced species diversity in the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot. We investigated the phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of the East African genus Atheris (Serpentes: Viperidae), and explored temporal and spatial relationships between Atheris species across Africa, and the impact of palaeoclimatic fluctuations and tectonic movements on cladogenesis of the genus. Using mitochondrial sequence data, the phylogeny of East African species of Atheris shows congruent temporal patterns that link diversification to major tectonic and aridification events within East Africa over the last 15 million years (my). Our results are consistent with a scenario of a delayed direct west–east colonisation of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Atheris by the formation of the western rift. Based on the phylogenetic patterns, this terrestrial, forest …
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