title: Cryptic, Sympatric Diversity in Tegu Lizards of the Tupinambis teguixin Group (Squamata, Sauria, Teiidae) and the Description of Three New Species.
abstract: Tegus of the genera Tupinambis and Salvator are the largest Neotropical lizards and the most exploited clade of Neotropical reptiles. For three decades more than 34 million tegu skins were in trade, about 1.02 million per year. The genus Tupinambis is distributed in South America east of the Andes, and currently contains four recognized species, three of which are found only in Brazil. However, the type species of the genus, T. teguixin, is known from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela (including the Isla de Margarita). Here we present molecular and morphological evidence that this species is genetically divergent across its range and identify four distinct clades some of which are sympatric. The occurrence of cryptic sympatric species undoubtedly exacerbated the nomenclatural problems of the past. We discuss the species supported by molecular and morphological evidence and increase the number of species in the genus Tupinambis to seven. The four members of the T. teguixin group continue to be confused with Salvator merianae, despite having a distinctly different morphology and reproductive mode. All members of the genus Tupinambis are CITES Appendix II. Yet, they continue to be heavily exploited, under studied, and confused in the minds of the public, conservationists, and scientists.
authors.affiliation: Science & Education, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60605, United States of America.
authors.forename: John C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9252-6103
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Ecology, 1210 Geumgang-ro, Maseo-myeon, Seocheon-gun, 33657, Republic of Korea.|CIBIO/InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos), Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrario De Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas n°7, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jowers
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, 931 College Mall, The College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, 44691, United States of America.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lehtinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia, 20059, United States of America.
authors.forename: Stevland P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Guarino R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Colli
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ayrton K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Peres
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The George Washington University, 2023 G St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20052, United States of America.
authors.forename: Catriona R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hendry
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The George Washington University, 2023 G St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20052, United States of America.
authors.forename: R Alexander
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pyron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D013020:South America; D061350:Sympatry
chemical_list: D004247:DNA