Satellite DNA supports the monophyly of Lacertibaenia (Amphisbaenia and Lacertidae) in squamate phylogeny

Abstract

Lacertid and amphisbaenian lizards are two squamate reptile lineages very divergent morphologically. In fact, adaptation to burrowing deeply modified amphisbaenian worm-like body. Lacertids instead have a typical reptile morphology with a long tail and four well-developed limbs. Despite so different in appearance, they are evolutionarily very close as evidenced by molecular phylogenetic approaches. Consistently, a slow-evolving satellite DNA (IMO-TaqI) described in lacertid lizards was isolated from the genome of the amphisbaenian Trogonophis wiegmanni too. Comparison with lacertid repeats evidenced great similarity, highlighting that molecular characters appeared very suitable especially when morphology is subjected to strong selective pressures.

Keywords

• Trogonophis
• lacertid lizards
• Lacertibaenia
• repetitive DNA
• IMO-TaqI satDNA