@article{fdi:010075488,
  title = {{A}ncient diversification, biogeography, and the role of climatic niche evolution in the {O}ld {W}orld cat snakes ({C}olubridae, {T}elescopus)},
  author = {{S}mid, {J}. and {G}ocmen, {B}. and {C}rochet, {P}. {A}. and {T}rape, {J}ean-{F}ran{\c{c}}ois and {M}azuch, {T}. and {U}vizl, {M}. and {N}agy, {Z}. {T}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he process of species diversification is often associated with niche shifts in the newly arising lineages so that interspecific competition is minimized. {H}owever, an opposing force known as niche conservatism causes that related species tend to resemble each other in their niche requirements. {D}ue to the inherent multidimensionality of niche space, some niche components may be subject to divergent evolution while others remain conserved in the process of speciation. {O}ne such possible component is the species' climatic niche. {H}ere, we test the role of climatic niche evolution on the diversification of the {O}ld {W}orld cat snakes of the genus {T}elescopus. {T}hese slender, nocturnal snakes are distributed in arid and semiarid areas throughout {A}frica, southwest {A}sia and adjoining parts of {E}urope. {B}ecause phylogenetic relationships among the {T}elescopus species are virtually unknown, we generated sequence data for eight genetic markers from ten of the 14 described species and reconstructed a timecalibrated phylogeny of the genus. {P}hylogenetic analyses indicate that the genus is of considerably old origin that dates back to the {E}ocene/{O}ligocene boundary. {B}iogeographical analyses place the ancestor of the genus in {A}frica, where it diversified into the species observed today and from where it colonized {A}rabia and the {L}evant twice independently. {T}he colonization of {A}rabia occurred in the {M}iocene, that of the {L}evant either in the {L}ate {O}ligocene or {E}arly {M}iocene. {W}e then identified temperature and precipitation niche space and breadth of the species included in the phylogeny and examined whether there is phylogenetic signal in these climatic niche characteristics. {D}espite the vast range of the genus and its complex biogeographic history, most {T}elescopus species have similar environmental requirements with preference for arid to semiarid conditions. {O}ne may thus expect that the genus' climatic niche will be conserved. {H}owever, our results suggest that most of the climatic niche axes examined show no phylogenetic signal, being indicative of no evolutionary constraints on the climatic niche position and niche breadth in {T}elescopus. {T}he only two variables with positive phylogenetic signal (temperature niche position and precipitation niche breadth) evolved under the {B}rownian motion model, also indicating no directional selection on these traits. {A}s a result, climatic niche evolution does not seem to be the major driver for the diversification in {T}elescopus.},
  keywords = {{A}ridity ; {B}iogeography ; {P}hylogeny ; {R}eptiles ; {S}quamata ; {S}ystematics ; {EUROPE} ; {ASIE} ; {AFRIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}olecular {P}hylogenetics and {E}volution},
  volume = {134},
  numero = {},
  pages = {35--49},
  ISSN = {1055-7903},
  year = {2019},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ympev.2019.01.015},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010075488},
}