Xianguang Guo

Chengdu Instiute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences · Department of Herpetology

In order to study the diversity, phylogenetic relationships and distribution of marsh frogs of the Pelophylax ridibundus complex in Kazakhstan and northwest China, we conducted phylogeographic analyses of 125 samples from53 localities using themtDNAND2 and COI genes and the SAI nuclear gene sequences. Phylogenetic inference of mtDNA revealed three...

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the Kyrghyz racerunner (Eremias nikoskii Bedriaga, 1905) from Kyrgyzstan was determined for the first time by next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome was 20,840 bp in length and comprised the standard set of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a contr...

Comparative studies on mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) as well as the structure and evolution of the mitochondrial control region are few in the Lacertidae family. Here, the complete mitogenomes of five individuals of Eremias scripta (2 individuals), Eremias nikolskii, Eremias szczerbaki, and Eremias yarkandensis were determined using next-gene...

From the perspectives of biodiversity conservation and management, there is an urgent need to have at hand current synopses of classification and distributions of species. In this paper, we review and summarize the classifica tions, Chinese and English names, type specimens, type localities and distributions of China's lizard fauna to promote scien...

In this study we amplified and sequenced the nearly complete mitochondrial DNA of an individual of the Liu’s skink, Plestiodon liui, from south of the Yangtze River. The obtained mitochondrial genome was 17, 945 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes and an incomplete control region (...

The Yarkand racerunner, Eremias yarkandensis Blandford, 1875, is only distributed in China and Kyrgyzstan. Its complete mitogenome was determined by next-generation sequencing for the first time. The mitogenome was 18,743 bp in length, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 1 control region. It...

Intraspecific rearrangements of mitochondrial genomes are rarely reported in reptiles, even in vertebrates. The sunwatcher toad-headed agama, Phryncoephalus helioscopus, can serve as an excellent model for investigating the dynamic mitogenome structure at intraspecific level. To date, seven subspecies of P. helioscopus are well recognized, but litt...

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Splendid Japalure Diploderma splendidum has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2018. Diploderma splendidum is listed as Least Concern.

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Eremias dzungarica from the Junggar Basin in Northwest China was determined for the first time by next-generation sequencing. The total length is 19,899 bp, containing13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and one control region. This gene arrangement is simil...

An adult sand snake specimen was collected during a herpetofaunal survey conducted in the Turpan Basin in northwest China. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that this specimen, along with other snake sloughs and skins collected from different localities in the Turpan Basin formed a clade that is sister to Psammophis lineolatus. This taxon exhibited su...

The Eremias multiocellata-przewalskii species complex is a viviparous group in the genus Eremias, and a well-known representative of taxonomically complicated taxa. Within this complex, a new species – E. dzungarica (Orlova et al., 2017) – has been described recently from western Mongolia and eastern Kazakhstan, with an apparent distribution gap in...

Background Ticks are ectoparasites that feed on blood of a broad taxonomical range of terrestrial and flying vertebrates and are distributed across a wide range of environmental settings. To date, the species identity, diversity, and relationships among the ticks on lizards in China have been poorly understood. Methods In this study, 30 ticks, col...

Background: The distribution of genetic diversity and the underlying processes are important for conservation planning but are unknown for most species and have not been well studied in many regions. In East Asia, the Sichuan Basin and surrounding mountains constitute an understudied region that exhibits a “ring” of high species richness overlappin...

Vertebrate mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) are valuable for studying phylogeny, evolutionary genetics and genomics. To date, however, compared to other vertebrate groups, our knowledge about the mitogenomes of skinks (the family Scincidae), even of reptile, has been relatively limited. In the present study, we determined the complete mitogenome...

The Liu’s skink, Plestiodon liui, is endemic to China. In this study, a nearly complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) (17,643 bp in length) of P. liui from Junzhang Mountain, Wuxi, Jiangsu province, China, was determined by next-generation sequencing. Similar to the typical mtDNA of vertebrates, it contained two ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-...

We updated the checklists of extant, native amphibians and reptiles of China based on the previously published checklist of reptiles in 2015, the online checklist of amphibians on the database AmphibiaChina, newly published data as of December 2019, and previously uncollected literature prior to 2015. In total, the amphibian fauna of China consists...

Recent phylogenetic studies of gekkonid lizards have revealed unexpected, widespread paraphyly and polyphyly among genera, unclear generic boundaries, and a tendency towards the nesting of taxa exhibiting specialized, apomorphic morphologies within geographically widespread "generalist" clades. This is especially true in Australasia, where monophyl...

The viviparous Tartar sand boa, Eryx tataricus, is a widespread species in arid Central Asia. A complete mitochondrial genome of one individual from Junggar Basin in Northwest China was determined by next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome is 17,537 bp in size, comprising 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA gen...

The Asian Glass Lizard, Dopasia gracillis, has wide distribution in North India, Nepal, South China, and Indochina. In this study, a complete mitochondrial genome of D. gracillis from the Yungui Plateau in Southwest China was determined by next-generation sequencing. Similar to the typical mtDNA of vertebrates, the mitogenome was 17,133 bp in lengt...

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Hainan Glass Lizard (Dopasia hainanensis) from its type locality (Diaoluo Mountain in Hainan Island, China) was determined using next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome was 17,000 bp in length and comprised the standard set of 1 control region, 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, plus 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs). The P...

Background: Leishmaniosis, a disease caused by pathogenic Leishmania parasites, remains an unresolved health problem in the New World and the Old World. It is well known that lizards can be infected by a subgenus of Leishmania parasites, i.e. Sauroleishmania, which is non-pathogenic to humans. However, evidence suggests that lizards may also harbo...

The distribution and habitat characteristics of two Eremias species (E. arguta and E. stummeri) from contiguous areas of southeastern Kazakhstan, northeastern Kyrgyzstan, and western Xinjiang, China, were analyzed using GIS modeling. We show that both species are dry-steppe-adapted xerophilous lizards with sclerophilic and partially petrophilic spe...

Background. The use of GIS in zoology gives an opportunity for wide and extended study of isolated populations existing within complex terrain areas. We attempted GIS-based comparative analysis of the distribution and habitat conditions for two lizard’s species of the genus Eremias. The species analyzed inhabit the intermountain depressions of Tien...

During the survey on the amphibian and reptile diversity in Henan Province in late August 2018, eleven individuals of skinks (Scincidae) were captured at the suburb of Tongbai Mountains, Nanyang City. Through morphological analyzing, all of them were identified as Liu’s skink, Plestiodon liui, which is the first record in Henan Province, and the fi...

Recent phylogenetic studies of gekkonid lizards have revealed unexpected, widespread paraphyly and polyphyly among genera, unclear generic boundaries, and a tendency towards the nesting of taxa exhibiting specialized, apomorphic morphologies within geographically widespread ''generalist'' clades. This is especially true in the Australasia, where th...

Background Leishmaniasis caused by protozoan parasite Leishmania is a neglected disease which is endemic in the northwest of China. Reptiles were considered to be the potential reservoir hosts for mammalian Leishmaniasis, and Leishmania had been detected in lizards from the epidemic area in the northwest of China. To date, few studies are focused o...

Accession numbers for Leishmania sequences downloaded from GenBank and used for the phylogenetic analyses presented in Fig 2. (DOCX)

Phenotypic traits are usually correlated with the environment where organism occurs. In this study, the distribution of Eremias velox in the eastern periphery of its range was specified, and its morphological variation was analyzed. Linear dimensions, pholidosis, coloration and pattern features were compared among 135 specimens from nine population...

Forsyth’s toad-headed agama, Phrynocephalus forsythii, is endemic to the Taklamakan Desert. A nearly complete mitochondrial genome of one individual for this species was determined by next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome is 16,060 bp in length, comprising 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), an...

The complete mitochondrial genome of Plestiodon tunganus from its type locality (Pengba town, Luding County, China) was determined using polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced with a primer walking method. The mitogenome is 17,263 bp in length and comprises the standard set of one control region, two rRNAs, 22 tRNAs plus 13 protein-coding...

The Yarkand toad-headed agama, Phrynocephalus axillaris, is endemic to an arid region in Northwest China from the Taklamakan Desert eastward to Dunhuang and Turpan depressions. A nearly complete mitochondrial genome of one individual from the Turpan Depression was determined using next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome is 15,883 bp in length, c...

The viviparous Multiocellated Racerunner, Eremias multiocellata, is widespread in North China, Mongolia, and the Tuva Republic of Russia. A nearly complete mitochondrial genome of one individual from the suburb of Jingyuan County in Northwest China was determined by next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome is 17,333 bp in size, comprising 2 ribos...

The Variegated Racerunner, Eremias vermiculata, is widespread in Northwest China, southern Mongolia, and Zaisan Basin of Kazakhstan. In this study, a nearly complete mitochondrial genome (17,972 bp in length) of E. vermiculata from the Dunhuang Basin in Northwest China was determined by next-generation sequencing. Similar to the typical mtDNA of ve...

The present work aimed to evaluate 16S rRNA, khe and rpoB gene sequencing for the identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae in comparison with phenotypic methods. Fifteen clinical isolates were examined, which were initially identified as K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae using the automated VITEK 32 system in two hospitals in Enshi City, China. Their...

Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania is still endemic in Northwest China. It has been thought that reptiles could be a reservoir for mammalian leishmaniasis. However, data are still scarce on natural infection of lizards with Leishmania spp. in China. The present study deals with detection, identification and phylogenetic inference of Leishmania para...

The whole mitochondrial genome was determined from a viviparous racerunner, Eremias stummeri, which was collected from southeast Kazakhstan. The mitogenome sequence was 19 602 bp in size, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and a control region, which is similar to the typical mtDNA of vertebrates. Mitochondrial genomes...

The whole mitochondrial genome of a variegated racerunner (Eremias vermiculata) from the Taklamakan Desert was determined using polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced with a primer walking method. The mitogenome sequence was 19 796 bp in size, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region (D-loop),...

The complete mitochondrial genome was determined from a variegated racerunner, Eremias vermiculata, which was collected from north of Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China. The mitogenome sequence was 19,494 bp in size, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region (D-loop), which is similar to the typical mtDN...

In this study we observed the embryonic development processes and compared the weight of eggs with neonates to identify the form of nutritional provisioning in Eremias multiocellata. We also used light microscopy to determine the features of chorioallontoic placenta during late stages of gestation. Neonatal dry weight was approximately 10.3% smalle...

The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced from a viviparous toad-headed agama, Phrynocephalus forsythii, which is endemic to the Taklamakan Desert. The mitogenome sequence was 17,542 bp in size, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and a control region (D-loop). The gene arrangement and composition of P. forsythii...

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes have been well characterized in mammals, birds, amphibians and fishes, but little is known about their organization in reptiles, despite the fact that reptiles occupy an important phylogenetic position for understanding the evolutionary history of vertebrates MHC genes. In this study we used polymera...

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a dynamic genetic region with an essential role in the adaptive immunity of jawed vertebrates. The MHC polymorphism is affected by many processes such as birth-anddeath evolution, gene conversion, and concerted evolution. Studies investigating the evolution of MHC class I genes have been biased toward a...

During the survey on the amphibians and reptiles diversity in Jinhe County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in June 2013, over twenty specimens of the racerunners were captured at the town of Bujiahu. Among them, four were identified as variegated racerunner, Eremisa vermiculata Blanford, 1875, which is the first record in the north of the Tiansha...

The rapid racerunner, Eremias velox, is a widely distributed lizard from the northern Caucasus across entire Central Asia eastward to China. It is increasingly common to accept E. velox as a species complex in its entire range. To date, published morphological and molecular systematic hypotheses of this complex are only partially congruent, and its...

The Oriental garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) is one of the few non-gekkonid lizards that are geographically widespread in the tropics. We investigated its population dynamics on Hainan Island and the adjacent mainland of China and Vietnam, focusing on the impact of cyclic upheaval and submergence of land bridges during the Pleistocene. Our Bayes...

Observed and expected mismatch distributions showing the frequencies of pairwise differences of Group I and Group II based on models of sudden expansion (a, b) and spatial expansion (c, d). (TIF)

Accession numbers for the outgroup sequences retrieved from GenBank and used for phylogenetic analyses of Fiure S1. (DOC)

Results of the principal components analysis of 19 bioclimatic variables. (DOC)

The complete time-calibrated Calotes versicolor phylogeny used for secondary calibrations. Branch lengths are in units of time. Node bars indicate 95% credible intervals of estimated divergence times. Red bars indicate fossil-calibrated nodes. Posterior probabilities above 0.50 are shown next to nodes. (TIF)

Principal-components analysis of climatic niche differences between Groups I and II (framed by circle and square, respectively). (a) X-axis indicates PC1, and Y-axis indicates PC2. (b) X-axis indicates PC2, and Y-axis indicates PC4. (TIF)

Abstract The complete mitogenome sequence of a mystical lizard species Phrynocephalus mystaceus was determined using polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced with a primer walking method. The complete mitogenome was 16,660 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and a control region (D-loop). The gene...

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Yarkand toad-headed agama Phrynocephalus axillaris, the first complete mitogenome from the genus Phrynocephalus, was determined. The total length of this complete mitogenome is 17,937 bp, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and 2 control regions (CRs). The overall base composition...

Understanding large-scale geographic patterns of species richness as well its underlying mechanisms are among the most significant objectives of macroecology and biogeography. The ecological hypothesis is one of the most accepted explanations of this mechanism. Here, we studied the geographic patterns of snakes and investigated the relationships be...

Blue-tailed skinks (genus Plestiodon) are a common component of the terrestrial herpetofauna throughout their range in eastern Eurasia and North and Middle America. Plestiodon species are also frequent subjects of ecological and evolutionary research, yet a comprehensive, well-supported phylogenetic framework does not yet exist for this genus. We c...

The Ching Hai Toad-headed Agama (Phrynocephalus vlangalii) complex is a small toad-headed viviparous lizard that is endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A fragment of mtDNA ND4-tRNA(LEU) from 189 samples in 26 populations was used to infer the phylogeographic history of this species complex in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. Phylogenetic...

P. A047.