Consideration of range-wide variation is critical when splitting widely distributed species: the case of the proposed Iguana melanoderma.

Abstract excerpt

Among Iguaninae species, Iguana iguana (Linnaeus) has the largest geographic range, spanning most of the Neotropical mainland and numerous islands including several in the Lesser Antilles. Genetic data indicated the presence of cryptic diversity and at least four major, mtDNA clades. However, rather than assessing the taxonomic status of these four major clades, recent taxonomic work has focused more narrowly on...

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• Animal Distribution
• DNA, Mitochondrial
• Genetic Variation
• Phylogeny