Evolution of the Grey-bellied pygmy mouse group: Highly structured molecular diversity with predictable geographic ranges but morphological crypsis.
Mol Phylogenet Evol
; 130: 143-155, 2019 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30321697
ABSTRACT
The grey-bellied pygmy mouse (Mus triton) from the endemic African subgenus Nannomys is a widespread rodent species inhabiting the highlands of eastern and central Africa. Although it has long been considered as a single species, recent data has suggested the existence of a species complex. In order to evaluate the geographical structure and current taxonomy of M. triton, we analysed one mitochondrial and six nuclear genes from individuals covering most of its distribution range. Our analysis revealed the existence of at least five distinct genetic lineages with only marginal overlaps among their distributional ranges. Morphological comparisons, however, showed large overlaps in external body measurements and only a weak differentiation in skull form. Therefore, we suggest maintaining M. triton as a single taxon with pronounced intraspecific genetic structure. Divergence dating analysis placed the most recent common ancestor of the extant lineages of M. triton to the early Pleistocene (about 2.0â¯Ma). The phylogeographic structure of the species was likely shaped by Pleistocene climatic oscillations and the highly diverse topography of eastern Africa.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Phylogeny
/
Genetic Variation
/
Sigmodontinae
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
En
Journal:
Mol Phylogenet Evol
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Year:
2019
Type:
Article