18 June, 2014

Phylogeny of the genus Odontobuthus in Iran


Sara Azghadi and co-workers have recently published a phylogenetic analysis of the Iranian species of the genus Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Buthidae). The validity of the species so far described was confirmed and a new species was identified from the Kerman Province. The new species is not formally described and named in the current publication.

Abstract:
The molecular phylogeny of the genus Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Iran was evaluated using two mitochondrial DNA genes, cytochrome c oxidase, subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA). The molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed using Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The resulting topologies supported two main clades: the clade comprising Odontobuthus doriae, O. bidentatus, and O. tavighiae, and another one which is the O. tirgari clade. The results clearly presented additional support for the taxonomic validity of the recently described species, O. tirgari and O. tavighiae. In addition, the monophyly of two previously described species O. doriae and O. bidentatus was confirmed. According to the data presented here, three taxonomically valid species belonging to the genus Odontobuthus occur in Iran.

Reference:
Azghadi S, Mirshamsi O, Navidpour S, Aliabadian M. Scorpions of the genus Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Iran: Phylogenetic relationships inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Zoology in the Middle East. 2014;60(2):169-79. [Subscription required for full text]

Family Buthidae

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