A MULTIVARIATE-ANALYSIS OF MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION AMONG PARTHENOGENETIC TEIID LIZARDS OF THE CNEMIDOPHORUS-COZUMELA COMPLEX

The ''cozumela complex'' of parthenogenetic teiid lizards is currently identified by three taxa: Cnemidophorus cozumela cozumela from Isla C ozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico; C. c. maslini from scattered localities in Campeche and Quintana Roo, Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; and C. ro decki from Islas Contoy and Mujeres and the adjacent mainland of Quint ana Roo, Mexico. We used 59 individuals of C. c. cozumela, 126 individ uals of C. c. maslini, and 48 individuals of C. rodecki and principal components and canonical variate analyses of meristic characters to re solve patterns of morphological variation within and among the three t axa. The principal components analysis identified three primary groups of individuals corresponding to the three taxa presently recognized. Collectively, each taxon exhibits approximately the same level of morp hological distinctiveness; 92% of C. cozumela, 98% of C. maslini, and 100% of C. rodecki were assigned to the correct a priori group by a ja ckknifed classification in canonical variate analysis. We propose spec ies level status for C. c. maslini to reflect a level of morphological divergence commensurate with that seen between C. c. cozumela and C. rodecki. Cnemidophorus maslini is comprised of a minimum of three meri stically distinctive groups: MC-A from coastal Campeche, Mexico, MC-B from coastal Campeche, approximately 13 km southwest of MC-A, and MG f rom northern Guatemala. A small sample from southern Quintana Roo and a single specimen from Belize may represent a fourth group. In the abs ence of evidence for polyphyly, these four subsidiary groups of C, mas lini can be referred to as the Cnemidophorus maslini complex.