Phylogeographic Structure and Color Pattern Variation among Populations of Plethodon albagula on the Edwards Plateau of Central Texas

Abstract

Texas populations of slimy salamanders are isolated from other members of the Plethodon glutinosus complex and are currently placed in the species P. albagula with populations from the Ozark Plateau and Ouachita Mountains of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. We sequenced a portion of the mitochondrial protein-coding gene ND4 for 52 P. albagula from 25 localities in Texas and one locality in Missouri. Bayesian MCMC analysis identified five parapatric lineages of Plethodon in Texas. Several morphologically distinctive populations are phylogenetically embedded within the Texas radiation. Additional studies of the interactions among the lineages identified in this study will be necessary to resolve their taxonomic status.