EVOLUTIONARY AFFINITIES OF TWO RARE LIZARDS FROM NORTHERN URUGUAY

Abstract

Two lizard species that occur in northern Uruguay are poorly known: Stenocercus azureus and Hemidactylus mabouia. We sequenced the genes 12S and ND2 and estimated phylogenetic trees. The H. mabouia sequence found in Rivera City was unique and more closely related to a widely distributed haplotype found in Brazil, Argentina, and the Caribbean. The S. azureus from near Masoller (Salto) grouped with a sample of S. azureus from Bajada de Pena (Rivera). We encourage further sampling in order to assess the population structure of H. mabouia in Rivera City and to delineate potential conservation units of S. azureus in the region.