Hybridization between the endangered unisexual gray-checkered whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis dixoni) and the bisexual western whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis tigris) in southwestern New Mexico ; American Museum novitates, no. 3555

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dc.contributor.authorCole, Charles J.en_US
dc.contributor.authorPainter, Charles W. (Charles Wilson), 1949-en_US
dc.contributor.authorDessauer, Herbert C.en_US
dc.contributor.authorTaylor, Harry Leonard.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2007-03-23T16:22:33Z
dc.date.available2007-03-23T16:22:33Z
dc.date.issued2007en_US
dc.description31 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 26 cm.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (p. 28-30).en_US
dc.description.abstractHybridization between the unisexual Aspidoscelis dixoni and the bisexual Aspidoscelis tigris punctilinealis in southwestern New Mexico is documented by observations and analyses of external morphology (coloration, size, scalation), chromosomes (karyotypes), nuclear gene products (allozymes), and mitochondrial DNA. The locality (Hidalgo County, Antelope Pass of the Peloncillo Mountains, centered at 10.5 km west of Animas), consisting of only a few square kilometers, is the only place where this particular unisexual clone of A. dixoni exists. Because of its extreme rarity in recent years, A. dixoni has been listed as an endangered species in New Mexico, and the status of its populations has received intense study. Today, the cause(s) of endangerment remains unknown, although we hypothesize that interspecific competition may be the problem. Aspidoscelis dixoni is a diploid unisexual species that normally reproduces by parthenogenetic cloning, as demonstrated here with genetic data from laboratory-reared lizards. However, fertilization of its eggs in Antelope Pass is possible if mating occurs with a male of the syntopic bisexual species A. tigris punctilinealis. The resulting hybrids closely resemble their maternal parent morphologically, but they are triploid and the females observed to date have been sterile. Aspidoscelis t. punctilinealis is a recent invader of southwestern New Mexico. It is the dominant species of whiptail lizard today in the low-elevation, semiarid habitat of creosote desertscrub in Antelope Pass. The present rarity of A. dixoni in Antelope Pass, in contrast to its abundance a few decades ago, may result from negative interactions with this dominant species, including asymmetrical destabilizing hybridization. Only a few other populations of A. dixoni are known to exist, each in a limited area in southwestern Texas, so there is a hiatus of nearly 500 km between the small and restricted populations in New Mexico and Texas. Comparative genetic data presented here indicate that although these populations are similar, the population in New Mexico represents a unique clone. It has three alleles at 3 nuclear gene loci (among 31 examined) that distinguish it from the Texan populations, and it lacks a microchromosome that occurs in Texan populations. In addition, in this paper we present new comparative genetic data confirming that the origin of A. dixoni itself was from a hybrid between an A. tigris marmorata [female] x A. gularis septemvittata [male], consistent with earlier studies.en_US
dc.format.extent4273978 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2246/5843
dc.languageengen_US
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherNew York, NY : American Museum of Natural Historyen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesAmerican Museum novitates, no. 3555en_US
dc.subject.lccQL1 .A436 no.3555 2007en_US
dc.subject.lcshAspidoscelis dixoni -- Hybridization.en_US
dc.subject.lcshAspidoscelis tigris punctilinealis -- Hybridization.en_US
dc.subject.lcshAspidoscelis -- Hybridization.en_US
dc.subject.lcshRare reptiles -- New Mexico -- Hidalgo County.en_US
dc.subject.lcshEndangered species -- New Mexico -- Hidalgo County.en_US
dc.subject.lcshLizards -- Hybridization -- New Mexico -- Hidalgo County.en_US
dc.subject.lcshLizards -- New Mexico -- Hidalgo Countyen_US
dc.subject.lcshReptiles -- Hybridization -- New Mexico -- Hidalgo County.en_US
dc.subject.lcshReptiles -- New Mexico -- Hidalgo Countyen_US
dc.titleHybridization between the endangered unisexual gray-checkered whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis dixoni) and the bisexual western whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis tigris) in southwestern New Mexico ; American Museum novitates, no. 3555en_US
dc.title.alternativeLizard hybridizationen_US
dc.typetexten_US

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