Mitochondrial variation of the Endangered Pristidactylus species (Squamata, Leiosauridae) from central Chile

Abstract

Three endemic and threatened lizards of the genus Pristidactylus inhabit in central Chile, which have very limited distributions. Mitochondrial (cytochrome b) genetic variation was examined in two populations of each of these three species. The analyses suggest that they have large population sizes, high population structure and low gene flow between their populations. The implications of these results for the conservation of these species are discussed.