New haplotypes of Cyclura nubila nubila from Cuba changed the phylogenetic tree of rock-iguanas: a challenge for conservation strategies?
Abstract
Rock-iguanas of the genus Cyclura are the largest native terrestrial herbivores of the West Indies. Most species are currently under a high risk of extinction.
In order to assess genetic variation in Cuban rock iguanas (Cyclura nubila nubila), we sequenced a fragment of mitochondrial DNA in 21 iguanas from European Zoos and private breeders. We used neighbour joining, maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods to reconstruct the phylogenetic tree.
The results are congruent with the previously reported paraphyletic relationship of C. nubila with respect to C. cychlura from the Bahamas. Surprisingly, within C.n. nubila, we found previously undescribed haplotypes phylogenetically closer to those of the subspecies C. nubila caymanensis from Little Cayman Island, or C. nubila lewisi from Grand Cayman Island.