Hybridization between whiptail lizards in Texas : Aspidoscelis laredoensis and A. gularis, with notes on reproduction of a hybrid. (American Museum novitates, no. 3947)

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Date

2020-03-06

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

American Museum of Natural History.

DOI

DOI

Abstract

Karyotypes and allozyme data for 32 genetic loci overwhelmingly support the conclusion that Aspidoscelis laredoensis is a diploid all-female species that had a hybrid origin between A. gularis x A. sexlineatus. Comparisons of allozymes in individuals representing three mother-to-daughter generations raised in the laboratory suggest that they reproduce by parthenogenetic cloning. In addition to two previously described morphotypes (pattern classes A and B) that occur in southern Texas, we report the existence of three all-female clonal lineages based on allozymes. Individuals of at least one of these lineages occasionally hybridize in nature with males of A. gularis, producing viable and healthy triploid offspring that can grow to adulthood, one of which herself produced an offspring in the laboratory and could have represented a new, clonal triploid species. The possibility exists that cloned offspring of triploid hybrids are present in South Texas and/or northern Mexico, awaiting discovery. These would represent a new species that would appear to be very similar to A. laredoensis.

Description

13 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm.

Keywords

Aspidoscelis laredoensis., Aspidoscelis gularis., Aspidoscelis sexlineatus., Aspidoscelis., Hybridization., Genetics., Reproduction., Parthenogenesis in animals., Cloning., Lizards., Texas, South.

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