微衛星體DNA與粒腺體DNA序列分析顯示紐西蘭鱷蜥應合併為一個種

文獻來源: Hay JM, Sarre SD, Lambert DM, Allendorf FW, Daugherty Ch. 2009. Genetic diversity and taxonomy: a reassessment of species designation in tuatara (Sphenodon: Reptilia). Conservation Genetics DOI: 10.1007/s10592-009-9952-7

Abstract
The identification of species boundaries for allopatric populations is important for setting conservation priorities and can affect conservation management decisions. Tuatara (Sphenodon) are the only living members of the reptile order Sphenodontia and are restricted to islands around New Zealand that are free of introduced mammals. We present new data of microsatellite DNA diversity and substantially increased mtDNA sequence for all 26 sampled tuatara populations. We also re-evaluate existing allozyme data for those populations, and together use them to examine the taxonomic status of those populations. Although one could interpret the data to indicate different taxonomic designations, we conclude that, contrary to current taxonomy, Sphenodon is best described as a single species that contains distinctive and important geographic variants. We also examine amounts of genetic variation within populations and discuss the implications of these findings for the conservation management of this iconic taxon.

圖片連結: National Geographic (photo credit: Frans Lanting)

111歲老蜥初為父

yahoo轉譯歐洲新聞社的文字:

111歲的刺背鱷蜥亨利日前初為蜥父，共有11個蛋自本月23日起陸續孵化。圖為紐西蘭因威加吉南島博物館及藝廊27日所提供、未註明拍攝日期的亨利照片。歐新社98年1月27日

紐西蘭先趨報的原文:
Tuatara becomes a father for the first time, aged 111

It's never too late.
Invercargill's famous 111-year-old tuatara Henry has become a father for the first time, with 11 offspring born since Friday.
Henry, who has been at Southland Museum and Art Gallery since 1970, mated with Mildred last March.
She laid 12 eggs in June, with 11 surviving.
Museum tuatara curator Lindsay Hazley told NZPA 10 babies had hatched and the 11th was half way out of its egg this morning. It was great to see the babies, which ranged in size from wee to medium, hatch, he said.
"It's the completion of a love story."
They had had quite a slow hatching process and it was early days, but they all appeared to be doing well. The babies did not need to eat immediately after being hatched and would be offered bugs in about 10 days' time, he said. Tuatara parents did not play an active role in raising babies and were actually likely to eat anything that was small and moved, Mr Hazley said. Henry had formerly been known for his aggression, was not interested in sex and had to be kept isolated from other tuatara. However, he got his mojo back after a cancer growth was removed from his bottom. He was now living with three female tuatara "in great harmony" and was expected to mate with Lucy this year, Mr Hazley said.

"He's had a major personality transplant."

Mr Hazley hoped to enter Henry into the breeding programme regularly.

"It adds a whole new genetic diversity into our breeding stock, which is going to be very useful."

He expressed relief about Henry "finally getting it together" after looking looking after him for so long.

"I thought I'd written him off there for about 20 years."

The museum is the home to more than 70 tuatara, whose ancestors go back 220 million years.
- NZPA

另參考BBC有關這些鱷蜥北鼻的影片