Untangling the morphological and genetic variation of two endemic lizards from the coastal sand dunes of Northeastern Brazil

What is it about?

In this article, we study three species of lizards that live and are restricted to coastal sandy dunes in a small region in northeastern Brazil. Recent molecular studies on these species have revealed significant genetic variation, and this variation is linked to the formation of the region where they inhabit. In our research, we aim to expand the investigation of genetic data and analyze various approaches regarding the morphology of these animals in association with the climate of the region in order to gain a better understanding of the history of these lizards. We have identified the presence of hidden diversity within these lizards, indicating that there are likely other species in addition to these three. This scenario illustrates the existence of a complex evolutionary history associated with a relatively understudied environment.

Featured Image