Abstract
Abstract Evolutionary significant units are an important level of biodiversity in management and conservation programs. Molecular data are considered a high priority for efficient Broad-Snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris) conservation. In this study, we used two mitochondrial (COI and 16sRNA) and one nuclear (RAG1) molecular markers to test the hypothesis of independent evolution of geographic lineages across Brazilian river basins. We captured caimans at night and cut one or more scales from the tail for genetic analyses. We obtained genetic data from 37 C. latirostris captured between September 2012 and June 2013 from 13 locations throughout four river basins: Doce, Jequitinhonha, Parana, and Sao Francisco. Clades were closely associated to river basins, supporting the presence of three distinct phylogenetic lineages within the 1) Sao Francisco and Jequitinhonha, 2) Doce, and 3) Parana river basins. These lineages have been isolated probably since the rise of Pleistocene low sea levels and do not have r...
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