Phylogeny, phylogeography and diversification history of the westernmost
Asian cobra (Naja oxiana) in the Trans-Caspian region
Abstract
We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the phylogenetic,
phylogeographic, and demographic relationships of Caspian cobra (Naja
oxiana; Eichwald, 1831) populations based on a concatenated dataset of
two mtDNA genes (cyt b and ND4) across the species’ range in Iran,
Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan, along with other members of Asian cobras
(i.e. subgenus Naja Laurenti, 1768). Our results provided strong support
that N. oxiana is monophyletic and its divergence from its sister taxon,
N. kaouthia, during early Pleistocene. Our results also highlight the
existence of only one major evolutionary lineage in the Trans-Caspian
region, suggesting a rapid expansion of the Caspian cobra from eastern
to western Asia, coupled with a rapid range expansion from east of Iran
to the northeast. However, the subdivision of eastern and northeastern
populations in Iran was not supported; hence we propose only one
evolutionary significant unit across the Iranian range of N. oxiana to
be considered for conservation efforts.