TY - JOUR
T1 - Hybridization between Crocodylus acutus and Crocodylus moreletii in the Yucatan Peninsula
T2 - I. Evidence from mitochondrial DNA and morphology
AU - Cedeño-Vázquez, José Rogelio
AU - Rodriguez, David
AU - Calmé, Sophie
AU - Ross, James Perran
AU - Densmore, Llewellyn D.
AU - Thorbjarnarson, And John B.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2008/12
Y1 - 2008/12
N2 - The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and the Morelet's crocodile (C. moreletii) are broadly sympatric in Belize and Mexico. The presence of morphologically anomalous individuals in the overlapping range area suggests possible hybridization between these species. Analysis of 477 base pairs of the mitochondrial tRNAPro-tRNAPhe-Dloop region revealed the presence of pure C. acutus (N = 43) and C. moreletii (N = 56), as well as a high proportion of interspecific hybrids (N = 17, 14.6%) in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Although all individuals could be assigned to one species or other based on phenotypic characters, some had been characterized as potential hybrids in the field by anomalous scale counts. The hybridization zone lies along the area of sympatry between C. acutus and C. moreletii investigated in this study, but extends further inland if hybrid localities from Belize are included. Hybridization in the Yucatan Peninsula is bidirectional, which indicates considerably more genetic contact between these species than previously recognized, and is probably more detrimental to the genetic integrity of smaller C. acutus populations. A more intensive study of the pattern of hybridization is warranted and supports continued classification of C. acutus as a critically threatened species in the Yucatan Peninsula.
AB - The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and the Morelet's crocodile (C. moreletii) are broadly sympatric in Belize and Mexico. The presence of morphologically anomalous individuals in the overlapping range area suggests possible hybridization between these species. Analysis of 477 base pairs of the mitochondrial tRNAPro-tRNAPhe-Dloop region revealed the presence of pure C. acutus (N = 43) and C. moreletii (N = 56), as well as a high proportion of interspecific hybrids (N = 17, 14.6%) in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Although all individuals could be assigned to one species or other based on phenotypic characters, some had been characterized as potential hybrids in the field by anomalous scale counts. The hybridization zone lies along the area of sympatry between C. acutus and C. moreletii investigated in this study, but extends further inland if hybrid localities from Belize are included. Hybridization in the Yucatan Peninsula is bidirectional, which indicates considerably more genetic contact between these species than previously recognized, and is probably more detrimental to the genetic integrity of smaller C. acutus populations. A more intensive study of the pattern of hybridization is warranted and supports continued classification of C. acutus as a critically threatened species in the Yucatan Peninsula.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=57749170734&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jez.473
DO - 10.1002/jez.473
M3 - Article
C2 - 18626922
AN - SCOPUS:57749170734
VL - 309
SP - 661
EP - 673
JO - Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology
JF - Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology
SN - 1932-5223
IS - 10
ER -