MOLECULAR SYSTEMATICS OF PITVIPERS - PARA PHYLY OF THE BOTHROPS COMPLEX

Phylogenetic relationships among pitvipers are inferred from a parsimo ny analysis wing cytochrome b DNA sequences: 396 bp in the 5'end of th e gene were sequenced in eight species of pitvipers (Agkistrodon blomh offi, Agkistrodon contortrix, Bothriechis schlegelii, Bothriopsis bili neata, Bothrops atrox, Crotalus atrox, Lachesis muta and Trimeresurus stejnegeri) and in four taxa used as outgroups (Atractaspis micropholi s, Boa constrictor, Cerastes cerastes and Elapsoidea semiannulata). Th e monophyly of pitvipers and that of the group formed by the genera At ractaspis and Elapsoidea are confirmed. Among pitvipers, the genus Agk istrodon is paraphyletic. The Bothrops complex is polyphyletic, since the Central American genus Bothriechis is the sister group of the genu s Crotalus and not clustered with the South American genera Bothriopsi s and Bothrops.