This is the first report on the genetic
relationship of three butterfly lizard species (L.
reevesii rubritaeniata, L. belliana belliana and L.
boehmei) determined by molecular sequence
analyses (RAG1 and C-mos genes).Their
molecular phylogeny revealed that L. reevesii
rubritaeniata is related more closely to L. belliana
belliana than to L. boehmei. This finding was also
consistent with the morphological and
chromosomal information of the butterfly lizard
in Thailand. The phylogenetic position among the
Leiolepidinae, Agaminae and Chamaeleonidae
remained uncertain, though there were additional
taxa in the Leiolepidinae in the current analysis
that had not been used in other previous studies.
Further study with additional taxa for the
Leiolepidinae, Agaminae and Chamaeleonidae
should be considered to elucidate their genetic
relationship.