[Phylogenetic relationships among Viperidae, Crotalinae based on mitochondrial 12S rRNA sequence variations]

This paper analyzed the phylogenetic relationships and classification of pit vipers (Viperidae, Crotalinae) based on mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene sequence variations. We have sequenced mtDNA 12S rRNA gene about 370 bp fragment from Gloydius saxatilis Emelianov, Gloydius shedaoensis Zhao, Gloydius ussurriensis (Emelianov), Trimeresurus stejnegeri Schmidt and Deinagkistrodon acutus, Gloydius brevicaudus (Stejneger) from two different localities, respectively. Combined with the sequence of Dinodon semicarinatus from GenBank, we have constructed two molecular phylogenetic trees using both Maximum-parsimony analysis and Neighbor-joining. Our results support the following conclusions: (1) Deinagkistrodon is a valid genus; (2) we also discussed the origin of Gloydius shedaoensis and showed it is a subspecies of Gloydius saxatilis; (3) Gloydius brevicaudsu and Gloydius ussurriensis are classified two species.