Search

The Ceratitis FARQ species complex consists of four highly destructive agricultural pests of Africa, namely C. fasciventris , C. anonae , C. rosa , and C. quilicii. The members of the complex are considered very closely related and the species limits among them are rather obscure. Their economic significance and the need for developing biological methods for their control makes species identification within the complex an important issue, which has become clear that can only be addressed by multidisciplinary approaches. Chromosomes, both mitotic and polytene, can provide a useful tool for species characterization and phylogenetic inference among closely related dipteran species. In the current study, we present the mitotic karyotype and the polytene chromosomes of C. rosa and C. quilicii together with in situ hybridization data. We performed a comparative cytogenetic analysis among the above two species and C. fasciventris , the only other cytogenetically studied member of the FARQ complex, by comparing the mitotic complement and the banding pattern of the polytene chromosomes of each species to the others, as well as by studying the polytene chromosomes of hybrids between them. Our analysis revealed no detectable chromosomal rearrangements discriminating the three FARQ members studied, confirming their close phylogenetic relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aethomys ineptus (Thomas and Wroughton, 1908), commonly called the Tete veld rat, is a medium-sized rodent with a long, sparsely haired tail and spermatozoa with spatulate-shaped heads (unique for all muroid rodents thus far examined). A. ineptus co-occurs with its sibling species, A. chrysophilus, and in areas of co-occurrence, an examination of spermatozoa, diploid number, allozymes, or mitochondrial DNA is required to distinguish the 2. Previous work described as many as 11 species of Aethomys, but recent evidence indicates a need for taxonomic revision of the genus. Endemic to Africa, A. ineptus prefers habitats where there is substantial cover in the form of shrubs, rocks, and herbaceous vegetation. It is not of special conservation concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Aethomys currently includes 11 species, but recent evidence indicates a need for taxonomic revision of the genus. Aethomys chrysophilus (De Winton, 1897) is a muroid rodent commonly called the red veld rat. A medium-sized rodent with a long, sparsely haired tail, A. chrysophilus is largely parapatric with its sibling species, A. ineptus, and in areas of co-occurrence, determination of chromosome number, mitochondrial DNA analysis, or morphology of spermatozoa are required to distinguish A. chrysophilus from A. ineptus. Endemic to Africa, A. chrysophilus is found in savanna-woodland habitats that include varying combinations of grass-herbaceous ground cover, shrub understory, and miombo or mopane woodlands. It is not of special conservation concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representatives of the genus Praomys occur throughout the African intertropical zone. It is unclear how many species this genus contains, nor do we know the exact distribution ranges and phylogenetic relationships of these taxa. Using molecular (16S rRNA gene sequencing) and morphological (multivariate craniometry) analyses we clarify the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships among the Praomys occurring in Africa's lowland tropical rainforests. We studied most species known from this area, based on specimens collected in seven countries (Guinea, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Congo Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo). In our study, Praomys appears to be monophyletic. Our results identify two species complexes: the jacksoni complex includes at least two species ( P. jacksoni and P. mutoni) and the tullbergi complex contains at least four species ( P. tullbergi, P. rostratus, P. misonnei, P. petteri). Although the 16S rRNA gene appears insufficient to resolve the phylogenetic relationships among all the members of the tullbergi species complex, it is suitable for the identification of most of the studied species, and its use has allowed us to redefine the geographical limits of several species. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 145, 539–553. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]