Genomic analyses reveal two species of the matamata (Testudines: Chelidae: Chelus spp.) and clarify their phylogeography
Abstract
Another matamata species is described as new to science. Chelus orinocensis is genetically and morphologically significantly different. Chelus orinocensis and C. fimbriata diverged approximately 13 million years ago. Chelus orinocensis lives in the Orinoco, Río Negro, and Essequibo drainages. Chelus fimbriata sensu stricto occurs in the Amazon and Mahury drainages.
- Publication:
-
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
- Pub Date:
- July 2020
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2020MolPE.14806823V
- Keywords:
-
- Amazonas;
- Chelus orinocensis sp. nov.;
- mtDNA;
- nDNA;
- Orinoco;
- South America;
- Taxonomy