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An electrophoretic study of two sibling species of the genus Gymnophthalmus and it's bearing on the origin of the parthernogenetic G. underwoodi (Sauria: Teiidae)

José Manoel Martins

Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 20520, 01498 São Paulo, SP, Brasil

ABSTRACT

The average heterozygosity of a population of the unisexual lizard Gymnophthalmus underwoodi and of an undescribed bisexual species Gymnophthalmus sp were estimated from horizontal starch gel and vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for allozymes of 14 different loci. The heterozygosity levels for both species were very low (about 0.06). The origin of the unisexual G. underwoodi is discussed, considering the new data and previous studies. Probably, two species have been confused under the name G. underwoodi, both parthenogenetic, but the data suggest that they differ with regard to mechanism of origin.

Keywords: Electrophoretic; Sibling species; Gymnophthalmus; Parthenogenetic; Teiidae.

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