title: First molecular phylogeny of scorpions of the family Buthidae from India.
abstract: Scorpions of the family Buthidae are widespread species in India. While studies are available on diversity and distribution of Indian buthid scorpions, no information is available on the phylogenetic relationships among the members of the family, within India and Asia in general. In the current study, we provide the first molecular phylogeny of buthid scorpions from central western India based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Our analysis confirms the current placement of the species, previously assigned to Mesobuthus in the genus Hottentotta. However, the analysis also suggests that the member of this genus from India form a monophyletic group distinct from the members of Hottentotta from Africa. Species of Lychas formed a monophyletic group. Although Orthochirus was nested within the larger clade of buthidae comprising genera such as Androctonus, Buthacus, Buthus and Odontobuthus, the exact phylogenetic placement will require more taxonomic sampling of the known genera of Buthidae. We also show that there is a substantial genetic variation among the populations of medically important scorpion species Hottentotta tamulus, and the genetic distance is linearly correlated with the geographical distance between the populations.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) , Pune , Maharashtra , India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Suranse
authors.affiliation: b Department of Zoology , Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce , Pune , Maharashtra , India.
authors.forename: Nitin S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Sawant
authors.affiliation: c Department of Biodiversity , M.E.S. Abasaheb Garware College , Pune , Maharashtra , India.
authors.forename: Shruti V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Paripatyadar
authors.affiliation: d Wildlife Information Liaison Development (WILD) Society , Coimbatore , Tamil Nadu , India.
authors.forename: Keerthi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krutha
authors.affiliation: e Department of Zoology , Government Science College , Gadchiroli , Maharashtra , India.|f Systematics, Ecology & Conservation Laboratory, Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO) , Coimbatore , Tamil Nadu , India.
authors.forename: Mandar S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Paingankar
authors.affiliation: g Department of Zoology , M.E.S. Abasaheb Garware College , Pune , Maharashtra , India.
authors.forename: Anand D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Padhye
authors.affiliation: h Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Center , Pune , Maharashtra , India.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Bastawade
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) , Pune , Maharashtra , India.|f Systematics, Ecology & Conservation Laboratory, Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO) , Coimbatore , Tamil Nadu , India.
authors.forename: Neelesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dahanukar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007194:India; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D012605:Scorpions / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: Cytochrome oxidase subunit I; Hottentotta; Lychas; Orthochirus