Phylogeographic Analyses of the Viviparous Multiocellated Racerunner (Eremias multiocellata) in the Tarim Basin of China

The genealogical and geographical distribution of a species offers insights into its evolutionary narrative, encompassing its population dispersion, migration, adaptation, and speciation—key aspects for comprehending the genesis and sustenance of biodiversity. Using three mitochondrial genes on 115 samples, this study examined the phylogeographic structure, phylogenetic divergence, and environmental evolution of the viviparous multiocellated racerunner (Eremias multiocellata) in the Tarim Basin of China. Our analyses revealed a significant phylogenetic structure and suggested that the distributed populations began to diverge approximately 6.63 million years ago (Ma), influenced by the uplift of surrounding mountain ranges and glacial cycles, and further differentiated into distinct groups around 3.72 Ma–1.50 Ma, exhibiting genetic distinctions. These results supplement the foundational genetic data to the Tarim Basin and provide insights on how historical geological events affect the species distribution and genetic differentiation and species formation in this region.