Abstract

Molecular systematic is important in solving the problematic taxonomy of venomous snakes and development of antivenins. The current study aimed to investigate the molecular phylogeny of 4 venomous species in Saudi Arabia using mitochondrial (mt) 16S rRNA gene.

DNA extracted from blood and mt16S rRNA gene amplified by PCR. Sequences submitted to gene bank, examined for similarity with other sequences in the data base using BLAST search, aligned using Clustal W method, and phylogenetic tree was constructed.

E. coloratus clustered as a separate group along with the isolate from Oman and Yemen with insignificant relation. Cerastes and Bitis arietans groups strongly correlated as sister taxa. The current B. arietans sample did not significantly correlate to the previously published sample from the same province (Taif). Cerastes groups did not significantly correlate with samples from Egypt or Israel.

This information might reflect the need for multiple gene markers for better molecular systematic.

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