Phylogeography of West Indies Coral snakes (Micrurus): Island colonisation and banding patterns

Abstract

In this study, we analyse New World coral snakes in a phylogenetic framework based upon an increased molecular data set, including novel sequences for the only two sympatric species known from an island (Trinidad, West Indies). Their presence in Trinidad and absence in Tobago offers a unique system to study the phylogeography of the region. We assess the tempo and mode of colonisation of Micrurus on the island, in addition to discussing the phylogenetic relationships for the genus Micrurus concerning two phenotypic traits, body and tail banding patterns. These relationships are analysed for the first time on statistical coalescent phylogeographic discrete ancestral reconstruction. We find a robust phylogenetic component in these characteristics, where strongly supported clades are recovered: prior to the onset of the Early Miocene, a triadal and tricolour tail clade composed of species from South America, and a second clade dating to the Middle-Late- Miocene with monadal and bicolour tails widely distributed from North to South America. The divergence between clades dates to the Oligocene and suggests an ancient pre-isthmus divergence supporting the arrival of the triadal clade into South America, before the connection between Central and South America was established. We find the two coral snakes present in the West Indies, M. diutius and M. circinalis, belong to the triadal and monadal clades, respectively. Guyana and Trinidad Micrurus diutius share the same haplotypes suggesting a Late Pleistocene–Holocene vicariance when sea level rises separated Trinidad from the mainland. A second lineage of diutius-like snakes is present in Guyana and is confirmed as M. lemniscatus which is assigned as a voucher and restricts the type locality for M. lemniscatus.