Vicariance and endemism in a Neotropical savanna hotspot: distribution patterns of Cerrado squamate reptiles

A groundbreaking study reveals that vicariant speciation, not faunal interchange, has predominantly shaped the diversity of squamate reptiles in the Cerrado, a Neotropical savanna hotspot. The research, which analyzed 267 species—including 103 endemics (39% of total)—challenges long-held assumptions about low endemism in the region. By mapping distribution patterns and testing predictions of the vicariance model, scientists identified seven biotic elements and ten putative areas of endemism, largely coinciding with topographical and vegetational divisions. Open, elevated plateaus emerged as hotspots for endemism, while peripheral depressions exhibited higher faunal interchange. This study underscores the critical role of vicariant processes in driving biodiversity, suggesting their prevalence across the Cerrado and broader Neotropical regions.

Nogueira, C., Ribeiro, S., Costa, G. C., & Colli, G. R. (2011). Vicariance and endemism in a Neotropical savanna hotspot: distribution patterns of Cerrado squamate reptiles. Journal of Biogeography, 38(10), 1907–1922. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02538.x