The cybotoid anoles and Chamaelinorops lizards (Reptilia: Iguanidae): evidence of mosaic evolution

Recent immunological comparisons involving the Hispaniolan Chamaelinorops and Anolis suggested that Chamaelinorops might be much more closely related to Hispaniolan species of Anolis than previously thought. Electrophoretic comparisons among the relevant taxa, coupled with a review of both the morphological and immunological data, suggest mosaic evolution may be responsible for the nonconcordance between some of the data sets. An example of significant morphological change with little electrophoretic differentiation was found in the A. cybotes-A. shrevei comparison while the converse was found in the A. cybotes-A. marcanoi comparison. Many of the character states that have been interpreted as implying close genealogical relationship between Chamaelinorops and other Hispaniolan anoles are known to be primitive and may be evolving slowly in these lineages.