SEED Madagascar

Slow and steady wins the race: Diversification rate is independent from body size and lifestyle in Malagasy skinks (Squamata: Scincidae: Scincinae)

Francesco Belluardo, A. Jesus Muñoz-Pajares, Aurélien Miralles, Daniele Silvestro, Walter Cocca, Fanomezana Mihaja Ratsoavina, Andrea Villa, Sam Hyde Roberts, Marcello Mezzasalma, Alexander Zizka, Alexandre Antonelli, Angelica Crottini.

The endemic Malagasy Scincinae lizards are amongst the most species-rich squamate groups on the island. They colonised all bioclimatic zones and display many ecomorphological adaptations to a fossorial (burrowing) lifestyle. Here we propose a new phylogenetic hypothesis for their diversification based on the largest taxon sampling so far compiled for this group.

Key topics:

Environment

Year of publication:

2023

Published in:

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution