Relationships of scincid lizards (Mabuya spp; Reptilia : Scincidae) from the Cape Verde islands based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

Partial DNA sequences from two mitochondrial (mt) and one nuclear gene (cyt ochrome b, 12S rRNA, and C-mos) were used to estimate the phylogenetic rela tionships among the six extant species of skinks endemic to the Cape Verde Archipelago, The species form a monophyletic unlit, indicating a single col onization of the islands, probably from West Africa. Mabuya vaillanti and M . delalandii are sister taxa, as indicated by morphological characters. Mab uya fogoensis and M. stangeri are closely related, but the former is probab ly paraphyletic. Mabuya spinalis and M. salensis are also probably paraphyl etic. Within species, samples from separate islands always form monophyleti c groups. Some colonization events can be hypothesized, which are in line w ith the age of the islands. C-mos variation is concordant with the topology derived from mtDNA. (C) 2001 Academic Press.