Data from: Multilocus phylogenetic analyses of Hispaniolan and Bahamian trunk anoles (distichus species group)

The distichus species group includes six species and 21 subspecies of
trunk ecomorph anoles distributed across Hispaniola and its satellite
islands as well as the northern Bahamas. Although this group has long
served as a model system for studies of reproductive character
displacement, adaptation, behavior and speciation, it has never been the
subject of a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis. Our goal here is to
generate a multilocus phylogenetic dataset (one mitochondrial and seven
nuclear loci) and to use this dataset to infer phylogenetic relationships
among the majority of the taxa assigned to the distichus species group. We
use these phylogenetic trees to address three topics about the group’s
evolution. First, we consider longstanding taxonomic controversies about
the status of several species and subspecies assigned to the distichus
species group. Second, we investigate the biogeographic history of the
group and specifically test the hypotheses that historical division of
Hispaniola into two paleo-islands contributed to the group’s
diversification and that Bahamian and Hispaniolan satellite island
populations are derived from colonists from the main Hispaniolan landmass.
Finally, third, we use comparative phylogenetic analyses to test the
hypothesis that divergence between pale yellow and darkly pigmented orange
or red dewlap coloration has occurred repeatedly across the distichus
species group.