The Evolution of Species of the Varanidae - Microcomplement Fixation Analysis of Serum Albumins

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships among 30 of the 40 species in the Varanidae were examined in the light of molecular information on albumin evolution derived from microcomplement fixation. A phylogeny based on these results is compared with proposed phylogenies based on data obtained using other techniques. Three separate radiations of Varanus are found in Australia, The movement of varanids to Australia from south-east Asia is thought to have occurred approximately 15-20 million years ago.