Complete mitochondrial DNA sequences of the green turtle and blue-tailed mole skink: statistical evidence for archosaurian affinity of turtles.

摘要: Turtles have highly specialized morphological characteristics, and their phylogenetic position has been under intensive debate. Previous molecular studies not established a consistent statistically well supported conclusion on this issue. In order to address this, complete mitochondrial DNA sequences were determined for the green turtle blue-tailed mole skink. These genomes possess an organization of genes which is typical most other vertebrates, such as placental mammals, frog, bony fishes, but distinct from organizations alligators snakes. Molecular evolutionary rates protein appear vary considerably among major reptilian lineages, with relatively rapid snake crocodilian lineages slow lizard lineages. spite rate heterogeneity, analyses using amino acid 12 proteins reliably Archosauria (birds crocodilians) Lepidosauria (lizards snakes) clades postulated previous studies. The further suggested that turtles are sister group archosaurs, untraditional relationship was provided strong statistical evidence by both bootstrap Kishino-Hasegawa tests. This first significant phylogeny placement relative archosaurs lepidosaurs. It therefore likely originated Permian-Triassic archosauromorph ancestor two pairs temporal fenestrae behind skull orbit subsequently lost. traditional classification in Anapsida may thus need be reconsidered.