Phylogeography of the salamander genus Pseudobranchus in the southeastern United States.

This study provides an extensive set of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences for the salamander genus Pseudobranchus of the southeastern United States. These sequences were analysed by multiple phylogenetic methods that support a single set of major phylogeographic divisions for its two corroborated species (P. axanthus and P. striatus). These phylogeographic divisions overlap with the geographic breakpoints of other freshwater and terrestrial taxa in this region. Collectively, these overlapping patterns highlight the Central Highland and Tifton/Vidalia uplands as a significant barrier to Atlantic vs. Gulf coast groups, while reconfirming the phylogeographic significance of the Altamaha and Apalachicola river drainages. Despite their distinct phylogeographic split, P. striatus from west and east of these uplands are not currently recognizable as separate species according to the concordance principles for species definition.