Phylogenomics, biogeography and taxonomic revision of New Guinean pythons (Pythonidae, Leiopython) harvested for international trade

The large and enigmatic New Guinean pythons in the genus Leiopython are harvested from the wild to supply the international trade in pets. Six species are currently recognized (albertisii, biakensis, fredparkeri, huonensis, meridionalis, montanus) but the taxonomy of this group has been controversial. We combined analysis of 421 nuclear loci and complete mitochondrial genomes with morphological data to construct a detailed phylogeny of this group, understand their biogeographic patterns and establish the systematic diversity of this genus. Our molecular genetic data support two major clades, corresponding to L. albertisii and L. meridionalis, but offer no support for the other four species. Our morphological data also only support two species. We therefore recognize L. albertisii and L. meridionalis as valid species and place L. biakensis, L. fredparkeri, L. huonensis and L. montanus into synonymy. We found that L. albertisiiand L. meridionalis are sympatric in western New Guinea; an at...