Study on The Relationships of Classification,Phylogenetics and Distribution of The Genus Phrynocephalus Spp.(Sauria:Agamidae) With The Paleogeographical Changes During Cenozoic Era in Tibet Plateau

This paper deals with the classification,distribution and the phylogenetic relationships among the species of the genus Phrynocephalus in Tibet Plateau with the paleogeographic changes in cenozoic.According to the analysis of 11 morphological and 1 ecological characters,it is evident that there are three species and two subspecies (including a newly described one) of the genus Phrynocephalus distributed in Tibet Plateau:Phrynocephalus theobaldi theobaldi,P.erythrurus and P.zetangensis as well as P.theobaldi orientalis nov.ssp.The differences between the two subspecies are:1)the hind limbs adpressing to head for P.t.orientalis not extending to mouth but for P.t.theobaldi it touches mouth;2)the average rows of scales on face for P.t.theobaldi is 4 and the average rows of scales on face for P.t.orientalis is 3;3)the length of tail of P.t.orientalis shorter than the length of snout-vent and for P.t.theobaldi it is longer than the length of snout-vent.P.theobaldi is distributed between the north side of imalaya Mountains and south side of GangDise—NyainQenTanGlha Mountains;P.erythrurus spreaded between south-west side of KunLun Mountains and north side of Gang Dise—NyainQenTanGlha Mountains and P.zetangensis was only found at Zetang.The analysis of phylogeny using P.forsythii as outgroup showed that the species group of Phrynocephalus distributed in Tibet Plateau derived from a common ancestor stock.During Miocene the ancestor of species group of P.theobaldi might be derived from the common ancestor by geographical vicariance due to the uplift of KunLun Mountains resulting in the elevational difference.During the time between late Miocene and earlier Pliocene P.erythrurus and P.zetangensis might be derived from its ancestor by dispersal so that they are sister species group.