Phylogeography of the genus Amblyomma Koch, 1844

The hard-tick genus Amblyomma Koch (1844) comprises an estimated 130 species with a typical Gondwanan geographical distribution.  Earlier systematic research on Amblyomma has fragmented the genus into subgenera based largely on morphology and geography. Molecular phylogeographical analyses and lineage dating within some Amblyomma species groups have shown strong correlations with historical biogeographical events dating back to the Miocene. We have generated a total evidence phylogenetic analysis of the relationships between Amblyomma taxa from Australia, southeastern Asia, Africa, South and North America based on 12SrDNA, control region, ITS2, 18SrDNA, and actin gene sequences. In this presentation, we will use our phylogeny to reassess the validity of the subgeneric subdivision of the genus, to evaluate the dates of the main lineage splitting along the tree, and to reconstruct the possible vicariant evolutionary history of the genus.