Biochemical variation of Phyllodactylus unctus and P. paucituberculatus

A survey of 27 gene products of presumptive isozyme gene loci has been used to determine the systematic status of a population identified as Phyllodactylus unctus in Michoacan, Mexico; it is determined that this population should be placed in cynonomy with P. paucituberculatus. The genetic distance estimate predicts a divergence time from P. unctus of baja california of 16 million yr (esterases not considered) to 18 million yr (esterases included), which correlates with geological dates for the formation of the cape region of baja california and genetic distance estimates for two other trasgulfian reptilian sister groups. Isozyme variability is low and heterozygosity estimates yield intermediate values between those of fossorial and low vagility lizards and those of sit-and-wait predator lizards.