Relationships of the Pachydactylus rugosus group of geckos (Reptilia : Squamata : Gekkonidae)

We examined phylogenetic relationships of the Pachydactylus rugosus complex using DNA sequence data from segments of the mitochondrial genes cytochrom e b and 16S ribosomal RNA. These molecular data support the contention that members of the rugosus complex, as defined by McLachlan (1979), form a mon ophyletic group. Further, high levels of sequence divergence observed betwe en currently recognized subspecies (19.1-26.8 % for cytb), even across shor t geographic distances, support elevation of each member to full specific r ank. The pattern of relationship within the P. rugosus complex species is P . rugosus (P. barnardi, P. formosus). Sequence data provide no evidence to support a close relationship between these taxa and P. capensis, to which p revious workers had assigned both Rformosus and P. barnardi.