Phylogenetic relationships of Mesobuthus eupeus (C.L. Koch, 1839) inferred from COI sequences (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Abstract

In this study, the first molecular phylogenetic analysis of Mesobuthus eupeus in Iran<br><br>is presented based on sequence data of a ∼ 700-base-pair fragment of cytochrome<br><br>C oxidase, subunit I. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using parsimony,<br><br>maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The results support monophyly of<br><br>M. eupeus, but there is a clear divergence between northern and southern clades.<br><br>The northern clade includes four subspecies – M. e. eupeus, M. e. philippovitschi,<br><br>M. e. afghanus and M. e. thersites; whereas the southern clade is comprised of two<br><br>others – M. e. phillipsi and M. e. kirmanensis. Accordingly, possible scenarios for<br><br>the evolution and phylogeographic structure of M. eupeus based on the geological<br><br>history of the Iranian Plateau were proposed. The observation of two distinct lineages<br><br>supports the proposal that M. eupeus might be a species complex composed<br><br>of species with highly similar morphological features.