龟鳖目淡水龟科系统发生关系的研究进展

淡水龟科是龟鳖目中物种数目最多、形态变异最多样的一个类群。其早期的系统学研究主要依据形态学和细胞学的特征,近年来,随着分子数据的不断增多,结合形态学等方法,淡水龟科系统发生学研究取得了诸多进展,但至今尚未有一致的结论。本文主要对近年来有关淡水龟科起源的单系性问题;潮龟属、闭壳龟属和拟水龟属重划分问题;潮龟属、草龟属和小棱背龟属属间关系问题;齿缘龟属、果龟属和东方龟属属间关系问题;齿缘龟属和木纹龟属属内种间关系问题研究进行了文献综述,以期为淡水龟科的系统发生关系和物种保护等研究提供参考。     

基于线粒体Cyt b基因的全长序列探讨闭壳龟类的系统进化

采用PCR技术对淡水龟科具闭壳结构的黄缘盒龟、黄额盒龟、金头闭壳龟、潘氏闭壳龟、锯缘龟和白腹摄龟的线粒体Cytb基因的全长序列进行了PCR扩增和序列测定,并结合GenBank中16种淡水龟科物种的同源序列,进行了序列变异和系统发生分析。经C lustalX1.8软件对位排列后共有1154个位点,其中可变位点413个,简约信息位点301个;A＋T的平均含量（56.5%）高于G＋C（43.5%）。在氨基酸密码子中,第一位富含A,第二位富含T,第三位富含C;碱基转换/颠换率为5.97,碱基替换多发生在密码子第三位。以中华鳖和马来鳖为外群,通过最大简约法,最大似然法和贝叶斯法重建了分子系统树,均具有一致的拓扑结构,结果表明：金头闭壳龟和潘氏闭壳龟最先聚成一支,再和三线闭壳龟聚成一组,说明形态上相似的三种闭壳龟亲缘关系最近;闭壳龟属、盒龟属和单种锯缘龟属聚成一个单系的闭壳龟群,建议合并为闭壳龟属;齿缘龟属和果龟属聚为一支,它们与新的闭壳龟属关系较远,揭示闭壳结构的形成不是由一个共同祖先分化而来;乌龟属、花龟属和拟水龟属三属为并系起源,建议三属可以合并为一属。     

海南尖峰岭自然保护区淡水龟类调查

2005年3~4月,采用野外调查和访问调查结合的方法,对尖峰岭自然保护区淡水龟类进行了专项调查。在海拔300~1 000 m设5个研究样区,采用系统抽样法在样区内选取443个研究样点,用笼捕法进行调查。野外调查共发现淡水龟类3种11只,包括8只平胸龟(Platysternon megacephalum)、2只四眼斑水龟(Sacalia quadriocellata)和1只锯缘摄龟(Pyxidea mouhotii)。访问调查得知当地还有黄额闭壳龟(Cuora galbinifrons)、三线闭壳龟(C.trifasciata)、中华鳖(Pelodiscus sinensis)和山瑞鳖(Palea steindachneri)分布。研究表明,尖峰岭自然保护区淡水龟类至少有2科7种,约占海南淡水龟类总种数的60%,其中四眼斑水龟和锯缘摄龟为本次调查到的尖峰岭淡水龟的新记录,三线闭壳龟和山瑞鳖为访问新记录。保护区内淡水龟类种群密度非常低,人为捕猎对淡水龟类资源破坏严重,需要加强保护和管理。     

海南淡水龟类贸易现状与管理建议

2002–2004年,对海南野生淡水龟类贸易进行了调查。调查发现海南所有市县都存在野生龟类贸易,有野生龟类贸易的农贸市场22个,占调查农贸市场总数的19.6%;有野生龟类贸易的乡镇64个,占调查乡镇总数的65.3%;野生龟类收购点103个,野生淡水龟共489只。野生龟贸易所涉及的淡水龟类共10种,占海南淡水龟分布总种数的90%以上,其中3种是国家二级重点保护动物,6种是列入《濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约》附录II的物种。按照《中国濒危动物红皮书(两栖类和爬行类)》,1种为极危物种,8种为濒危物种,1种为易危物种。在个体数量方面,以锯缘摄龟(Pyxideamouhotii)、黄额盒龟(Cuoragalbinifrons)、四眼斑水龟(Sacaliaquadriocellata)和中华花龟(Ocadiasinensis)较多,平胸龟(Platysternonmegacephalum)、地龟(Geoemydaspengleri)、中华鳖(Pelodiscussinensis)较少,三线闭壳龟(Cuoratrifasciata)、黄喉拟水龟(Mauremysmutica)和山瑞鳖(Paleasteindachneri)极其稀少。龟类市场价格差异很大,从2002年到2004年,各种龟的价格都有不同幅度的上涨。分析表明:淡水龟类非法捕猎与贸易在海南普遍存在,过度捕猎对海南淡水龟类构成了严重威胁,而野生龟贸易则是导致过度捕猎的主要原因。本文在分析和探讨海南野生淡水龟类贸易的现状、原     

封面图片介绍

正黄缘闭壳龟,又称黄缘盒龟,属淡水龟科,闭壳龟属。其背甲隆起,呈深褐色,具一浅棕色明显脊棱。头部颜色呈黄绿色,眼睛后方有一条鲜艳的黄色纵带。腹甲平,呈棕黑色。四肢略扁,具钝爪。尾短,尾基及股后有疣粒。夏季以夜间活动为主,白天隐蔽于阴凉处。当气温低于10℃时,进入冬眠。该物种已被列入国家二级保护动物。     

海南岛淡水龟类区系特点及保护优先性分析

海南岛是我国淡水龟类分布较为集中、物种丰富度高、动物区系独特的地区,已知的淡水龟有2科8属11种,占全国淡水龟种数(24种)的46％。海南岛淡水龟物种密度为3．2种／10^4km^2,均为东洋界成分,其中华南区种4种,占36．4％;华中-华南区共有的种7种,占63．6％;海南特有种2种,占岛内淡水龟种数的18．2％。海南岛淡水龟占华南地区淡水龟种数(19种)的57．9％。海南与广东、广西和香港的淡水龟类区系关系也十分密切,与它们的生物相似值分别为0．76、0．64和0．47。目前,中国75％的淡水龟类濒危,海南岛81．8％的淡水龟类濒危。分析表明,海南岛应是我国淡水龟类资源优先保育的地区。     

四川内江晚侏罗世中国龟科一新属

描述了产自四川内江晚侏罗世的中国龟科（Ｓｉｎｅｍｙｄｉｄａｅ）化石一新属新种──叶氏香港龟Ｈｏｎｇｋｏｎｇｏｃｈｅｌｙｓ ｙｅｈｉ。它以椎盾较横宽、第７、８椎板较退化、上臀板缺失、具腹甲后窗等特征区别于中国龟属（Ｓｉｎｅｍｙｓ）和满洲龟属（Ｍａｎｃｈｕｒｏｃｈｅｌｙｓ）。这是中国龟科化石在四川的首次发现．     

齿缘摄龟线粒体基因组全序列与系统进化

采用常规PCR扩增并测序获得了齿缘摄龟(Cyclemys dentata)线粒体DNA(mtDNA)全序列,并研究了其基因组结构特点;根据20种龟的线粒体基因组重链蛋白编码基因序列,分别利用最大简约法(MP)、最大似然法(ML)和贝叶斯法(Bayesian)构建系统进化树,探讨这些龟鳖物种之间的系统进化关系。结果显示,齿缘摄龟线粒体基因组全序列长为16489 bp(GenBank登录号为JX455823),A+T含量为61.51%,编码37个基因,包括13个蛋白质编码基因,2个rRNA,22个tRNA和1个控制区(Dloop),基因组成与其他龟鳖类动物相似;非编码区D-loop长973 bp,包含1个中央保守区(CD),2个扩展终止结合序列区(ETASs),3个保守盒(CSBs);构建的MP树、ML树和Bayesian树的拓扑结构相似,闭壳龟属7种龟聚为一枝,拟水龟属6种龟聚为一枝,齿缘摄龟与黑桥摄龟聚在一枝,3种进化树均支持这些龟鳖物种现有的分类学地位。     

黄喉拟水龟（♀）与三线闭壳龟（♂）杂交后代的形态特征及其与父母本的比较研究

本研究通过黄喉拟水龟Mauremys mutica（♀）与三线闭壳龟Cuora trifasciata（♂）进行杂交,成功获得了杂种龟。这说明黄喉拟水龟和三线闭壳龟是可以进行属间远缘杂交的,但杂交组合的受精率及孵化成功率均低于黄喉拟水龟的同种组合。杂种稚龟与黄喉拟水龟稚龟在背甲纹路、腹甲黑斑、四肢和尾腹面的皮肤颜色、喉盾前端形状及起点位置、喉盾宽/喉盾缝长、喉盾缝长/肱盾缝长、股盾缝长/肛盾缝长存在差异。1龄前,杂种龟生长快于黄喉拟水龟。形态特征上,杂种龟头顶部淡棕黄色,头侧眼后有两条黑色纵纹,颈腹部淡黄色;背甲棕色,腹甲浅黄色,每一盾片中间都有边缘呈放射状的黑斑;四肢、尾腹面及裸露皮肤部分为黄褐色。形态可量数据分析显示杂种龟在形态上接近黄喉拟水龟。建立了三种龟的形态判别公式,判别的准确率为100%（p<0.01）,判别分析中贡献最大的4个变量分别是腹甲后半部长/背甲长、喉盾宽/背甲长、肱盾缝长/背甲长、股盾缝长/背甲长,可见三线闭壳龟、黄喉拟水龟与杂交种腹部的腹甲后半部长、喉盾宽、肱盾缝长、股盾缝长等参数可作为鉴别三者的直接依据。本实验的结果对杂种龟的鉴定、龟类的杂交育种及养殖生产实践都有一定的借鉴作用。     

平胸龟、乌龟和四爪陆龟盾片变异

观察国产平胸龟标本 2 2号 ,盾片变异者 3号( 1 3 6 % )。肋盾多于 4者 1号 ,两侧对称为 5。缘盾少于 1 1者两号 ,均系右侧 1 0枚。腹甲少于 6对者 1号 ,两侧胸盾与腹盾愈合 ,对称为 5。此外腋盾多于 1者两号 ,一号左 2右 3,另一号右 2。胯盾两侧均消失者 1号。下缘盾一侧或两侧多于或少于 1者 9号。一号腋盾与胯盾前后相接 ,两侧下缘盾均消失 ,另一号右侧下缘盾缺失 ,两侧 3或 2者各 1号 ,仅一侧 2另一侧 1者6号。缘盾、下缘盾、腹甲盾片同时出现变异者 1号。下缘盾的数目问题 ,陈壁辉等 ( 1 991∶1 6 8)记每侧 3～ 6枚 ,张孟闻等 ( 1 998…     

First application of the SINE (short interspersed repetitive element) method to infer phylogenetic relationships in reptiles: an example from the turtle superfamily Testudinoidea

Although turtles (order Testudines) constitute one of the major reptile groups, their phylogenetic relationships remain largely unresolved. Hence, we attempted to elucidate their phylogeny using the SINE (short interspersed repetitive element) method, in which the sharing of a SINE at orthologous loci is indicative of synapomorphy. First, a detailed characterization of the tortoise polIII/SINE was conducted using 10 species from eight families of hidden-necked turtles (suborder Cryptodira). Our analysis of 382 SINE sequences newly isolated in the present study revealed two subgroups, namely Cry I and Cry II, which were distinguishable according to diagnostic nucleotides in the 3' region. Furthermore, four (IA-ID) and five (IIA-IIE) different SINE types were identified within Cry I and Cry II subgroups, respectively, based on features of insertions/deletions located in the middle of the SINE sequences. The relative frequency of occurrence of the subgroups and the types of SINEs in this family were highly variable among different lineages of turtles, suggesting active differential retroposition in each lineage. Further application of the SINE method using the most retrotranspositionally active types, namely IB and IC, challenged the established phylogenetic relationships of Bataguridae and its related families. The data for 11 orthologous loci demonstrated a close relationship between Bataguridae and Testudinidae, as well as the presence of the three clades within Bataguridae. Although the SINE method has been used to infer the phylogenies of a number of vertebrate groups, it has never been applied to reptiles. The present study represents the first application of this method to a phylogenetic analysis of this class of vertebrates, and it provides detailed information on the SINE subgroups and types. This information may be applied to the phylogenetic resolution of relevant turtle lineages.     

海南省海口地区龟类市场贸易调查

2002～2004年,对海口地区龟类市场贸易进行了调查。在21个贸易市场共发现龟类23种2572只,其中淡水龟科17种,鳖科4种,陆龟科1种,鳄龟科1种;国外龟类12种,占种数的52％,中国和国外共有龟类11种,占种数的48％;在海南岛分布的龟类有7种,占种数的30％;在23种龟中,10种为濒危物种,1种为易危物种,11种为CITES（2003）附录Ⅱ物种。调查表明,市场上的国外龟类在种类和数量上占绝对优势,一些国家保护龟类也出现在贸易市场上。本文对海口地区龟类市场贸易现状进行了分析和讨论。     

A phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of the genera of Spirorchinae (Digenea: Spirorchidae) parasitic in freshwater turtles.

Cladistic analysis of the freshwater genera of Spirorchinae (Schistosomatoidea: Spirorchidae sensu Yamaguti, 1971) plus Haematotrema Stunkard, 1923, and Aphanospirorchis Platt, 1990, was completed. The Spirorchinae were considered monophyletic based on synapomorphies of the esophagus. Three lineages, Spirhapalum (Europe/Asia), Plasmiorchis+Hemiorchis (India), and Spirorchis + Henotosoma + Haematotrema + Aphanospirorchis (North America), were identified. Nelsen consensus analysis was used as the basis for recognizing 3 valid monophyletic genera: Spirhapalum, Plasmiorchis, and Spirorchis. Hapalotrematinae sensu Smith, 1972 (e.g., Hapalorhynchus/Coeuritrema), is considered the most plesiomorphic group of spirorchids. Freshwater representatives of the hapalotrematines have been reported from 7 of 12 extant turtle families, including the relatively primitive Pelomedusidae (Pleurodira) and exhibit a worldwide distribution. It is hypothesized that this group arose in the early Triassic period, prior to the breakup of Pangea. Thus, it represents a primitive lineage that was present during the diversification of turtle lineages in the mid-Mesozoic era. Spirorchinae arose later (late Cretaceous period) as a Laurasian component parasitic in the more recent pond turtles (Emydidae + Bataguridae). Species of Spirhapalum retained a relatively plesiomorphic distribution, and they are found in emydids (Europe) and batagurids (Asia). Species of Spirorchis arose and diversified with North America emydids following the separation of North America and Europe in the late Cretaceous or early Tertiary periods. Species of Plasmiorchis are hypothesized to be derived from Asian ancestors that accompanied the colonization of India by Asian batagurids during the early Tertiary period. The presence of Spirorchis species in snapping turtles (Chelydridae/North America) and of Plasmiorchis species in Indian soft-shelled turtle (Trionychidae) are considered independent colonization events.     

中华鳖线粒体基因组序列分析

参照近源物种线粒体基因组序列,设计17对特异引物,采用PCR产物直接测序法测得中华鳖线粒体基因组全序列.初步分析其基因组特点和各基因的定位,用pDRAW32软件预测12种限制性酶对其的酶切图谱.结果表明,中华鳖线粒体基因组全长17364bp,核苷酸组成为35.23%A、27.26%T、25.73%C、11.78%G,包括13个蛋白质编码基因、2个rRNA基因、22个tRNA基因和1个非编码控制区.基于线粒体基因组编码的13个蛋白质的氨基酸序列,用NJ法和MP法构建系统进化树,分析6种龟鳖类动物之间的亲缘关系,与传统的系统分类基本一致,初步确定淡水龟科与海龟科的亲缘关系比与龟科的亲缘关系要近.     

ADAPTIVE EVOLUTION OF PLASTRON SHAPE IN EMYDINE TURTLES

Morphology reflects ecological pressures, phylogeny, and genetic and biophysical constraints. Disentangling their influence is fundamental to understanding selection and trait evolution. Here, we assess the contributions of function, phylogeny, and habitat to patterns of plastron (ventral shell) shape variation in emydine turtles. We quantify shape variation using geometric morphometrics, and determine the influence of several variables on shape using path analysis. Factors influencing plastron shape variation are similar between emydine turtles and the more inclusive Testudinoidea. We evaluate the fit of various evolutionary models to the shape data to investigate the selective landscape responsible for the observed morphological patterns. The presence of a hinge on the plastron accounts for most morphological variance, but phylogeny and habitat also correlate with shape. The distribution of shape variance across emydine phylogeny is most consistent with an evolutionary model containing two adaptive zones—one for turtles with kinetic plastra, and one for turtles with rigid plastra. Models with more complex adaptive landscapes often fit the data only as well as the null model (purely stochastic evolution). The adaptive landscape of plastron shape in Emydinae may be relatively simple because plastral kinesis imposes overriding mechanical constraints on the evolution of form.     

Marine turtle mitogenome phylogenetics and evolution

The sea turtles are a group of cretaceous origin containing seven recognized living species: leatherback, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, olive ridley, loggerhead, green, and flatback. The leatherback is the single member of the Dermochelidae family, whereas all other sea turtles belong in Cheloniidae. Analyses of partial mitochondrial sequences and some nuclear markers have revealed phylogenetic inconsistencies within Cheloniidae, especially regarding the placement of the flatback. Population genetic studies based on D-Loop sequences have shown considerable structuring in species with broad geographic distributions, shedding light on complex migration patterns and possible geographic or climatic events as driving forces of sea-turtle distribution. We have sequenced complete mitogenomes for all sea-turtle species, including samples from their geographic range extremes, and performed phylogenetic analyses to assess sea-turtle evolution with a large molecular dataset. We found variation in the length of the ATP8 gene and a highly variable site in ND4 near a proton translocation channel in the resulting protein. Complete mitogenomes show strong support and resolution for phylogenetic relationships among all sea turtles, and reveal phylogeographic patterns within globally-distributed species. Although there was clear concordance between phylogenies and geographic origin of samples in most taxa, we found evidence of more recent dispersal events in the loggerhead and olive ridley turtles, suggesting more recent migrations (<1Myr) in these species. Overall, our results demonstrate the complexity of sea-turtle diversity, and indicate the need for further research in phylogeography and molecular evolution.     

Impalement of marine turtles (Reptitia,Chelonia: Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae) by billfishes (Osteichthyes,Perciformes: Istiophoridae and Xiphiidae)

Synopsis Billfishes have long been known to impale a great variety of objects, but there are only two brief, obscure records of marine turtles being speared. Details are presented on these two, as well as on two other confirmed records; data from two additional unconfirmed records are also presented. In total, three species of marine turtles are known to have been impaled by three species of billfishes; a fourth species of fish and a fourth species turtle are listed in an unconfirmed case. Records come from the eastern and western Pacific as well as the eastern Atlantic. Of the four confirmed cases, the turtles survived in two, and apparently died as an effect of the spearing in the other two. In three confirmed cases only the impaled rostrum was encountered, and in one confirmed case the entire fish was found, with its rostrum piercing the turtle. There is no obvious advantage — or clear disadvantage — involved in impaling turtles. It is argued that these attacks are accidental, and the result of attempts made by the billfish to capture prey that are near the turtle. These spearings indicate that the chelonians serve as shelters for prey animals on the high seas, and thus, are further evidence of the pelagic existence of marine turtles. The impalings are evidence of a singular ecological role of the turtles — as live fish aggregation devices.     

Molecular phylogenetics and evolution of turtles

Turtles are one of Earth's most instantly recognizable life forms, distinguished for over 200 million years in the fossil record. Even so, key nodes in the phylogeny of turtles remain uncertain. To address this issue, we sequenced >90% of the nuclear recombination activase gene 1 (RAG-1) for 24 species representing all modern turtle families. RAG-1 exhibited negligible saturation and base composition bias, and extensive base composition homogeneity. Most of the relationships suggested by prior phylogenetic analyses were also supported by RAG-1 and, for at least two critical nodes, with a much higher level of support. RAG-1 also indicates that the enigmatic Platysternidae and Chelydridae, often considered sister taxa based on morphological evidence, are not closely related, although their precise phylogenetic placement in the turtle tree is still unresolved. Although RAG-1 is phylogenetically informative, our research revealed fundamental conflicts among analytical methods for estimating phylogenetic hypotheses. Maximum parsimony analyses of RAG-1 alone and in combination with two mitochondrial genes suggest the earliest phylogenetic splits separating into three basal branches, the pig-nosed turtles (Carettochelyidae), the softshell turtles (Trionychidae), and a clade comprising all remaining extant turtles. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses group Carettochelyidae and Trionychidae (=Trionychoidae) in their more traditional location as the sister taxon to all other hidden-necked turtles, collectively forming the Cryptodira. Our research highlights the utility of molecular data in identifying issues of character homology in morphological datasets, while shedding valuable light on the biodiversity of a globally imperiled taxon.     

Great Lakes coastal wetland habitat use by seven turtle species: influences of wetland type, vegetation, and abiotic conditions

Great Lakes coastal wetlands are important habitats for turtles but few studies have looked at factors driving community structure in these systems. We evaluated the effects of wetland type, vegetation, and abiotic conditions on turtle communities for 56 wetlands in Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior with data collected during the summers of 2000–2008. Overall, 1,366 turtles representing seven species were captured using fyke nets. For the majority of species, catches were highest in drowned river mouth wetlands In addition, turtles tended to be more abundant in water lilies, submersed aquatic vegetation, and cattails compared to bulrush. We also found positive correlations between catches of four of the species as well as total turtle catch and turtle species richness with a human disturbance gradient. These correlations suggest that turtles may be able to utilize coastal wetland areas that are inhospitable to fish because of hypoxic conditions. Our results show the importance Great Lakes coastal wetlands to turtles, and stress the need for managers to take into account turtle populations when preparing conservation and restoration strategies.