Molecular genetic characterization and phylogenetic placement of Teratoscincus rustamovi (Squamata, Sphaerodactylidae)

O. Amirov; A. Yuldoshkhonov; A. Kuchboev; R. Shapaotov; T. Abduraupov; A. Ismatov; D. Murotova

doi:10.15421/012550

O. Amirov Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan
A. Yuldoshkhonov Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan
A. Kuchboev Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan
R. Shapaotov Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan
T. Abduraupov Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan
A. Ismatov Namangan State University
D. Murotova National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek

Keywords: Teratoscincus rustamovi, molecular phylogeny, 16S rRNA, species delimitation, genetic distance, ABGD, Sphaerodactylidae, Central Asia, endemic species, conservation genetics.

Abstract

This study examines the molecular-genetic and phylogenetic status of Teratoscincus rustamovi , a gecko species endemic to the sandy deserts of southwestern Uzbekistan. Formerly considered a subspecies of T. scincus , it has recently been recognized as a distinct species, yet molecular evidence has been limited. We analyzed mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences obtained from new samples and compared them with congeneric taxa using Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic reconstruction, pairwise genetic distances, and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD). Results revealed that T. rustamovi forms a strongly supported monophyletic clade (100% bootstrap) and shows clear divergence (0.07–0.12) from T. keyserlingii , T. scincus , T. roborowskii , and T. przewalskii . Heatmap visualization and ABGD consistently confirmed its recognition as an independent molecular unit. Importantly, the sequence of T. rustamovi was submitted for the first time to international databases. These findings validate the taxonomic status of T. rustamovi as a separate evol u tionary lineage and highlight the role of mitochondrial markers in resolving reptile ph y logenetics. Given its restricted distribution and vulnerability to habitat change, the results also provide a molecular basis for conservation strategies in Central Asian desert ecosystems.

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