BioProject

In order to elucidate mitochondrial evolution and the unresolved phylogeny of the widely distributed European green lizards (Lacerta viridis complex), we determined 16 mitochondrial genomes from a representative sampling of the four previously identified clades corresponding to L. More...

In order to elucidate mitochondrial evolution and the unresolved phylogeny of the widely distributed European green lizards (Lacerta viridis complex), we determined 16 mitochondrial genomes from a representative sampling of the four previously identified clades corresponding to L. bilineata (western distribution range), L. viridis (most of the eastern distribution range), the unnamed Adriatic (or West Balkan) clade, and another unnamed clade from Turkey and south-eastern Europe. All mitogenomes were on average 17.162 bp long with a canonical vertebrate gene inventory of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA -genes, 2 ribosomal RNA-genes and a long non-coding Control Region. Herein, we detected several almost completely clade-specific insert and tandem-repeat signatures. Phylogenetic analyses using all 13 protein coding genes from a total of 20 mitogenomes revealed the branching pattern of divergent clades. The Turkish clade split off first, with very strong support. Within the monophylum comprising the remaining clades, L viridis was sister to a clade containing L. bilineata and the Adriatic clade. Unexpectedly, one specimen of western Italy (Calambrone, Pisa) clustered together with the Adriatic clade with high bootstrap support, calling for further research on the biogeography of the L. viridis complex. Less...