Albumin Evolution and its Phylogenetic Implications in the Plethodontid Salamander Genera Plethodon and Ensatina
Maxson LR, Highton R, Wake DB. 1979. Albumin Evolution and its Phylogenetic Implications in the Plethodontid Salamander Genera Plethodon and Ensatina. Copeia. 3:502-508
Comparative studies were made of albumin evolution in all species of the salamandergenera Plethodon and Ensatina. The albumins of all species were comparedby the quantitative micro-complement fixation technique. Ensatina wasseen to be phyletically remote from all species of Plethodon. The eastern largeand eastern small Plethodon were shown to be more similar to one another thanto the species of western Plethodon. P. neomexicanus was closest to the westernspecies of Plethodon. Two distinct subsets were disclosed within the eastern smallassemblage of Plethodon. Within the eastern large assemblage of Plethodon, P.wehrlei and P. punctatus were found to constitute a separate lineage.We suggest that Ensatina diverged from the lineage giving rise to Plethodonnear the beginning of the Tertiary. A late Eocene divergence for the eastern andwestern Plethodon species is indicated. Overall these salamanders appear to havebeen experiencing considerable molecular evolution, without equivalent morphologicalchange, throughout their Cenozoic duration.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Maxson, Linda; Highton, Richard; Wake, David
- Units
- SHEN
- Keywords
- Evolution, Genetics, Herpetology (Amphibians/Reptiles), Salamanders