title: Integrative Taxonomy of Southeast Asian Snail-Eating Turtles (Geoemydidae: Malayemys) Reveals a New Species and Mitochondrial Introgression.
abstract: Based on an integrative taxonomic approach, we examine the differentiation of Southeast Asian snail-eating turtles using information from 1863 bp of mitochondrial DNA, 12 microsatellite loci, morphology and a correlative species distribution model. Our analyses reveal three genetically distinct groups with limited mitochondrial introgression in one group. All three groups exhibit distinct nuclear gene pools and distinct morphology. Two of these groups correspond to the previously recognized species Malayemys macrocephala (Chao Phraya Basin) and M. subtrijuga (Lower Mekong Basin). The third and genetically most divergent group from the Khorat Basin represents a previously unrecognized species, which is described herein. Although Malayemys are extensively traded and used for religious release, only few studied turtles appear to be translocated by humans. Historic fluctuations in potential distributions were assessed using species distribution models (SDMs). The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) projection of the predictive SDMs suggests two distinct glacial distribution ranges, implying that the divergence of M. macrocephala and M. subtrijuga occurred in allopatry and was triggered by Pleistocene climate fluctuations. Only the projection derived from the global circulation model MIROC reveals a distinct third glacial distribution range for the newly discovered Malayemys species.
authors.affiliation: Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ihlow
authors.affiliation: Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Melita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vamberger
authors.affiliation: Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Morris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flecks
authors.affiliation: Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.affiliation: Thailand Natural History Museum, National Science Museum, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand.|Phranakhon Rajabhat University, Bang Khen, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.affiliation: Thailand Natural History Museum, National Science Museum, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sunchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makchai
authors.affiliation: Phranakhon Rajabhat University, Bang Khen, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pratheep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meewattana
authors.affiliation: Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium, Saint Louis Zoo, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeffrey E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.affiliation: General Department of Administration for Nature Conservation and Protection, Ministry of Environment, Chamkar Mon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kheng
authors.affiliation: Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rödder
authors.affiliation: Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Fritz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002160:Cambodia; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D014426:Turtles / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial