Phylogenetic relationships among iguanian lizards using alternative partitioning methods and TSHZ1: a new phylogenetic marker for reptiles.

We present phylogenetic hypotheses for the major iguanian lizard lineages and several squamate outgroups using a combined analysis of 4950 aligned base positions representing two intronless nuclear genes, TSHZ1 and RAG1. Bayesian analyses using reversible jump (RJ) mixture model selection are conducted and compared with a priori partitioned, mixed model maximum likelihood analyses. Bayesian credibility values and ML bootstraps are comparable with strong support at deep nodes and within acrodonts, but weak support for the twelve iguanid lineages. Accounting for pattern and rate heterogeneity is becoming commonplace and is essential for accurate phylogeny reconstruction.