title: A phylogeny of the Tylototriton asperrimus group (Caudata: Salamandridae) based on a mitochondrial study: suggestions for a taxonomic revision.
abstract: A phylogenetic hypothesis for the Asian newts of the Tylototriton asperrimus group was generated using data from two mitochondrial fragments including COI and the ND1-ND2 regions. Four distinct clades (A, B, C, D) were resolved with high nodal support within this monophyletic group. Clade A included T. asperrimus, T. hainanensis, T. notialis, "T. vietnamensis", and two unnamed salamander populations from Vietnam. Clade A, constituted the sister group of clades B + C. Newly identified clade C likely represents a new cryptic species. Clade C was the sister group of T. wenxianensis. The true T. vietnamensis exclusively constituted clade D. Our results bring into question some previous taxonomic decisions, and a revision is required. This study illustrates the necessity to include samples from type localities in taxonomic studies, and highlights the importance of fine-grained geographical sampling.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Shun-Qing
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Jun-Xiao
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Quang Truong
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Thien Tao
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Jie-Qiong
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Che
mesh_terms: D029845:Amphibian Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012455:Salamandridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029845:Amphibian Proteins; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial