The enigmatic history of the European, Asian and American plethodontid salamanders

Abstract. Recently published research addressing the question of relationships and biogeography of European plethodontid salamanders has refined time estimates for divergence from American relatives. The recently discovered Korean plethodontid Karsenia is either the sister-taxon of Hydromantes (whic...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: David B. Wake
Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
Format: Text
Language:English
Subjects:
Atylodes
biogeography
Hydromantes
morphology
paleogeography
phylogeny
Speleomantes
taxonomy
Bering Land Bridge
Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.694.3184
http://ib.berkeley.edu/labs/wake/397_Wake_AmpRept_13.pdf
Description
Summary:Abstract. Recently published research addressing the question of relationships and biogeography of European plethodontid salamanders has refined time estimates for divergence from American relatives. The recently discovered Korean plethodontid Karsenia is either the sister-taxon of Hydromantes (which has members in Europe and California), or a close relative and co-member of a larger clade that originated in western North America, not eastern North America as formerly thought. The new information strengthens the biogeographical hypothesis that Hydromantes entered Eurasia via the Bering Land Bridge. Arguments are made favoring the placement of European and American relatives in a genus Hydromantes, with an American clade (subgenus Hydromantes) and a European clade (subgenera Atylodes and Speleomantes).

Similar Items