The untold story on the ecological and phylogenetic complexity of the Uruguayan reptile fauna

Abstract

Differential regimes of natural selection resulting from environmental complexities are regarded as among the major factors behind processes of evolutionary radiation (Schluter 2000). Therefore, where diverse selective environments converge, diverse organisms in terms of phylogenetic and ecological richness are expected to occur. In some areas of the world, processes of diversification can take the form of geographically widespread evolutionary radiations within the same lineage, as observed for example in the emblematic lizard genus Anolis (Losos 2009). In other areas, in contrast, relatively small territories characterized by rich environmental and ecological complexities allow the existence of similarly complex assemblages formed by several different lineages under tight coexistence. A prominent case of this last scenario, although largely hidden until recently, is the reptile fauna of Uruguay. Located at the subtropical Eastern extreme of South America, Uruguay encloses countless natural elements that inspire the development of an exciting story on the wonderful outcomes of ecological interactions, and ultimately, of evolution. Carreira et al. (2005) have recently taken the challenge to tell part of this natural story. Focusing on the most fundamental outcome of ecological and evolutionary processes, namely biodiversity at different levels, Carreira et al. have come out with the first detailed scientific monograph on the reptiles of Uruguay ever published, and one of the first complete accounts of this ectotherm fauna for the country in almost a century (the only previous complete account is Devincenzi’s 1925).