From which genus did the genus *Aspidoscelis* originate via splitting?
Answer
Cnemidophorus
The modern genus *Aspidoscelis*, known for its asexual reproduction, is recognized as having arisen through a distinct evolutionary divergence. Specifically, the *Aspidoscelis* genus was formed by the splitting or separation from the larger, ancestral genus named *Cnemidophorus*. This event marked a key reorganization in the evolutionary history of these lizards. The lineages that subsequently evolved into the entirely parthenogenetic forms originated from crosses involving sexual species that were present within this ancestral *Cnemidophorus* group before the split that formalized the *Aspidoscelis* lineage.
Related Questions
What reproductive strategy defines the *Aspidoscelis* whiptail lizards?What process founded the parthenogenetic lineages of *Aspidoscelis*?What specific mechanism of parthenogenesis is employed by many *Aspidoscelis* species?What structural change results from the cessation of recombination in asexual *Aspidoscelis*?How is the diversification of asexual *Aspidoscelis* lineages typically represented phylogenetically?What ploidy state characterizes the asexual species *Aspidoscelis neomexicanus*?What behavior might asexual *Aspidoscelis* females engage in to stimulate ovulation?What genomic feature may compensate for the lack of recombination in long-term surviving *Aspidoscelis* asexual lineages?From which genus did the genus *Aspidoscelis* originate via splitting?What is the key demographic advantage of asexuality in low-density *Aspidoscelis* populations?What function is suggested for the allopolyploidy events following hybridization in *Aspidoscelis*?