Classification of Cyrtodactylus marmoratus species complex based on the molecular approach

Abstract

Sundaland's construction history has implications for the diversification and distribution of the genus Cyrtodactylus. One of the Cyrtodactylus known is C. marmoratus which taxonomically uncleared species. The aim of this study was to explain the taxon position of C. marmoratus from Java using the ND4 gene marker. Total of 10 Cyrtodactylus were analyzed based on the molecular analysis. Afterwards, it was used to construct the phylogenetic trees based on the maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian Interference. The p-distance analysis was tested to determine the differences between species. Interestingly, the phylogenetic trees indicated that the C. marmoratus from West Java was separated from C. marmoratus from Central Java. Some C. marmoratus from central Java were grouped with C. semiadii. It was also supported by the morphological characters of C. marmoratus from West Java which has distinguishing features i.e no pore on precloacal scales, no continuous pore on precloacal femoral scale, no deep precloacal groove, have 37 ventral scales and 20 lamellae sub digital on the fourth toe. Thus, it can be confirmed that C. marmoratus was a species complex with unclear distribution limits.