Taxonomic evaluation of different populations belong to Trapelus ruderatus in western Asia

Genus Trapelus Cuvier, 1816 consists of 13 species. Trapelus ruderatus is one of the members of the genus Trapelus that distributed in western Asia (from Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia to Syria and Jordan). During recent years, many taxonomical decisions have been done on this species, but none of them reaches to a robust and precise result. In the present study, we collected and examined 97 specimens of the species from Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq. For this aim, three genetic markers have been used (two mtDNA genes ND2, Cytb; one nuclear gene C-mos). Molecular phylogenetic analyses have been done on all samples and indicated that all populations of the species in Iran show high genetic variation and need further investigation based on the morphological characters. Iraqi population clearly separated from all other samples and shows the closer relationship to Trapelus persica. Finally, populations from Turkey and Syria created two main clades. The species inhabited in high elevated regions and then it cannot disperse from the lowland deserts, then it can be assumed that Zagros Mountain can play the corridor role for the species from or to the Anatolian Plateau. However, Zagros mountain show different climate zones from southern part to the northern part, and then it can be caused this genetic variation among Iranian populations. Adaptation to the local climate condition is an important ecological factor for the species variation. This type of adaptation needs sufficient climate and habitat structure variation. Finally, it can be possible to do a comprehensive ecological study to clarify these assumptions.

Keywords:

Agamidae , Sauria , Anatolian Plateau , Zagros Mountain , Genetic variation