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A cryptic taxon of Galápagos tortoise in conservation peril

Michael A Russello, Scott Glaberman, James P Gibbs, Cruz Marquez, Jeffrey R Powell, Adalgisa Caccone
Published 22 September 2005.DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2005.0317
Michael A Russello
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Scott Glaberman
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James P Gibbs
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Cruz Marquez
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Jeffrey R Powell
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Adalgisa Caccone
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Abstract

As once boldly stated, ‘bad taxonomy can kill’, highlighting the critical importance of accurate taxonomy for the conservation of endangered taxa. The concept continues to evolve almost 15 years later largely because most legal protections aimed at preserving biological diversity are based on formal taxonomic designations. In this paper we report unrecognized genetic divisions within the giant tortoises of the Galápagos. We found three distinct lineages among populations formerly considered a single taxon on the most populous and accessible island of Santa Cruz; their diagnosability, degree of genetic divergence and phylogenetic placement merit the recognition of at least one new taxon. These results demonstrate the fundamental importance of continuing taxonomic investigations to recognize biological diversity and designate units of conservation, even within long-studied organisms such as Galápagos tortoises, whose evolutionary heritage and contribution to human intellectual history warrant them special attention.

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Footnotes

  • The supplementary Electronic Appendix is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2005.0317 or via http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk.

    • Received January 7, 2005.
    • Accepted March 7, 2005.
  • © 2005 The Royal Society
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22 September 2005
Volume 1, issue 3
Biology Letters: 1 (3)
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A cryptic taxon of Galápagos tortoise in conservation peril
Michael A Russello, Scott Glaberman, James P Gibbs, Cruz Marquez, Jeffrey R Powell, Adalgisa Caccone
Biol. Lett. 2005 1 287-290; DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2005.0317. Published 22 September 2005
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A cryptic taxon of Galápagos tortoise in conservation peril

Michael A Russello, Scott Glaberman, James P Gibbs, Cruz Marquez, Jeffrey R Powell, Adalgisa Caccone
Biol. Lett. 2005 1 287-290; DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2005.0317. Published 22 September 2005

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