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Faunivorous mammals with simple guts are thought to rely primarily on endogenously produced enzymes to digest food, in part because they lack fermentation chambers for facilitating mutualistic interactions with microbes. However, variation in microbial community composition along the length of the gastrointestinal tract has yet to be assessed in faunivorous species with simple guts. We tested for differences in bacterial taxon abundances and community compositions between the small intestines and colons of 26 individuals representing four species of shrew in the genus Crocidura. We sampled these hosts from a single locality on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, to control for potential geographic and temporal variation. Bacterial community composition differed significantly between the two gut regions and members of the family Mycoplasmataceae contributed substantially to these differences. Three operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of an unclassified genus in this family were more abundant in the small intestine, whereas 1 OTU of genus Ureaplasma was more abundant in the colon. Species of Ureaplasma encode an enzyme that degrades urea, a metabolic byproduct of protein catabolism. Additionally, a Hafnia–Obesumbacterium OTU, a genus known to produce chitinase in bat gastrointestinal tracts, was also more abundant in the colon compared to the small intestine. The presence of putative chitinase- and urease-producing bacteria in shrew guts suggests mutualisms with microorganisms play a role in facilitating the protein-rich, faunivorous diets of simple gut mammals.

Oposum layang atau sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) merupakan salah satu satwa endemik Indonesia. Permintaan akan satwa eksotis ini sebagai hewan peliharaan terus meningkat namun informasi terkait potensi zoonosis yang ditimbulkannya masih sangat terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeteksi dan mengidentifikasi bakteri patogen yang dibawa oleh oposum layang melalui pendekatan culture-dependant method dan untuk mengetahui pola resistensi antibiotiknya. Sampel yang digunakan adalah feses oposum layang (n=21) yang dikoleksi dari fasilitas riset satwa liar di Pusat Penelitian Biologi LIPI, Bogor. Berdasarkan uji presumptif Salmonella pada medium Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) agar, sebanyak 6 sampel (29%) dinyatakan positif, sedangkan uji presumtif untuk Listeria pada Listeria isolation transwab dinyatakan positif untuk semua sampel (100%). Secara total, sebanyak 43 isolat telah berhasil dikoleksi dan dikarakterisasi fenotipiknya terhadap antibiotik dan sembilan isolat (21%) diantaranya menunjukkan adanya resistensi terhadap satu jenis antibiotik atau lebih. Sementara itu, tiga isolat potensial patogen telah diidentifikasi menggunakan gen 16S rRNA yaitu Shigella sonnei (X15), Klebsiella pneumoniae (X21) dan Bacillus flexus (H8). Penelitian lanjutan untuk mengidentifikasi bakteri yang dikoleksi dan mengkonfirmasi patogenisitasnya masih perlu dilakukan namun berdasarkan hasil dari kajian awal ini, kami menguatkan hipotesis bahwa oposum layang berpotensi sebagai reservoir dari bakteri zoonosis sekaligus reservoir dari resistensi antimikroba.

Communities that vary in the richness of closely related species but occupy similar environments provide a powerful system to investigate how trait variation and species richness interact to fill ecological space. In tropical mountain habitats on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, local murine rodent community richness ranges from 7 to 23 species. We measured 17 morphological, ecological, and isotopic traits to test for the expansion or packing of community ecospace among nine murine communities. Traits related to cranial shape (but not jaw shape), trophic level, and body shape showed the strongest evidence of expansion. Locomotion emerged as a fundamental axis of ecological variation, expanding ecospace and enabling niche packing of other traits such as diet and body size. Though trait divergence often explains functional diversity in island communities, we found that phylogenetic diversity facilitates community ecospace expansion in some conserved traits such as cranial shape, while more labile traits are overdispersed both within and between island clades. Our results evoke competition, trait evolvability, and the independent evolutionary trajectories of each of Sulawesi’s murine clades as central to generating the exceptional functional diversity and species richness in this insular radiation.Komunitas-komunitas dengan variasi kekayaan spesies berkerabatan dekat tetapi menempati lingkungan yang serupa menyediakan sistem yang kuat untuk menyelidiki bagaimana variasi sifat dan kekayaan spesies berinteraksi untuk mengisi ruang ekologi. Kami mengukur 17 karakter morfologi, ekologi, dan sifat isotop untuk menguji perluasan atau pengemasan volume ruang ekologi komunitas di antara sembilan komunitas hewan pengerat yang terdiri dari 7 hingga 23 spesies di pulau Sulawesi. Sifat-sifat yang berhubungan dengan bentuk tengkorak (tetapi tidak bentuk rahang), tingkat trofik, dan bentuk tubuh menunjukkan bukti ekspansi yang kuat. Sistem penggerak muncul sebagai sumbu fundamental dari variasi ekologi, mengembangkan ruang ekologi, dan memungkinkan pengemasan relung pada sifat lain seperti makanan dan ukuran tubuh. Meskipun divergensi sifat dianggap melampaui konservatisme ceruk di komunitas pulau, kami menemukan bahwa keragaman filogenetik memfasilitasi ekspansi ruang ekologi komunitas dalam beberapa sifat yang dilestarikan seperti bentuk tengkorak, sementara sifat yang lebih labil tersebar secara berlebihan baik di dalam maupun di antara klad pulau. Hasil kami menunjukkan persaingan, sifat evolvabilitas, dan lintasan evolusi independen dari setiap klad murinae Sulawesi sebagai pusat untuk menghasilkan keragaman fungsional yang luar biasa dan kekayaan spesies dalam radiasi insular ini.

Albinism, a congenital disorder that results in a lack of melanin deposition, is common in domesticated animals but rare in nature. Among the ∼2500 species of rodents worldwide, only 67 have published reports of albinism. Here we report the capture of an albino murid (Muridae: Rodentia) from Mt. Singgalang in West Sumatra, Indonesia. The specimen is an adolescent but sexually mature male Maxomys hylomyoides, a montane Sumatran endemic. To our knowledge, this specimen represents the first reported albino rodent from Indonesia and Sundaland, and only the second from Southeast Asia.

Field biology is an area of research that involves working directly with living organisms in situ through a practice known as “fieldwork.” Conducting fieldwork often requires complex logistical planning within multiregional or multinational teams, interacting with local communities at field sites, and collaborative research led by one or a few of the core team members. However, existing power imbalances stemming from geopolitical history, discrimination, and professional position, among other factors, perpetuate inequities when conducting these research endeavors. After reflecting on our own research programs, we propose four general principles to guide equitable, inclusive, ethical, and safe practices in field biology: be collaborative, be respectful, be legal, and be safe. Although many biologists already structure their field programs around these principles or similar values, executing equitable research practices can prove challenging and requires careful consideration, especially by those in positions with relatively greater privilege. Based on experiences and input from a diverse group of global collaborators, we provide suggestions for action-oriented approaches to make field biology more equitable, with particular attention to how those with greater privilege can contribute. While we acknowledge that not all suggestions will be applicable to every institution or program, we hope that they will generate discussions and provide a baseline for training in proactive, equitable fieldwork practices.

Esselstyn, Jacob A., Achmadi, Anang S., Handika, Heru, Swanson, Mark T., Giarla, Thomas C., Rowe, Kevin C. (2021): Fourteen New, Endemic Species Of Shrew (Genus Crocidura) From Sulawesi Reveal A Spectacular Island Radiation. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2021 (454): 1-109, DOI: 10.1206/0003-0090.454.1.1, URL: https://bioone.org/journals/bulletin-of-the-american-museum-of-natural-history/volume-454/issue-1/0003-0090.454.1.1/Fourteen-New-Endemic-Species-of-Shrew-Genus-Crocidura-from-Sulawesi/10.1206/0003-0090.454.1.1.full

The main priority of UNESCO MAB program is to emphasize the implementation of biosphere reserve concept for achieving sustainable development. Biosphere reserve is a concept of site management to harmonize the needs for conservation of both land and coastal ecosystem with the need for economic development in the basis of research on the utilization of natural resources, including cultural resources recognized by UNESCO MAB Program in order to promote a balanced relationship between human and the nature. Principally, the concept of biosfer reserve is applied to bring the conservation of biological diversity into line with sustainable development for achieving a balanced relationship between human and the nature. The advantage of applying the biosphere reserve concept lays on the excellent combination of its three functions, namely: (1) The function associated with conservation of biological resources, ecosystems, and cultural diversity; (2) The function associated with development that supports and enriches sustainable economic development through an ecologicaly and culturally wise approach; and (3) The function associated with provision of logistics supports for various activities related with conservation and sustainable development, in a local, regional, national, or global context, including research, education, training, and monitoring. In implementing those three functions integratively, a zonation approach is applied, in which the site of biosphere reserve is devided into three different areas with specific functions and roles: (1) The core area: It is the area for conservation and it must have a firm, long-term legal protection for preserving the biodiversity, monitoring the undisturbed ecosystems or undertaking non-destructive research, and other “passive” activities such as education and training and ecosystem services; (2) The buffer zone: It is the area encircling or adjoining the core area that is determined to provide protection to the core area against the negative impacts of human activities; and (3) The transition area: The transition area. It is typically the largest part of the biosphere reserve area fuctioning to develope cooperation with local communities. It is established side by side with the buffer zone and this area is a place to develope models for sustainable development and develop an appropriate management of natural resources for the area. Biosphere reserves are used as a place to test and build a sustainable way of life through integrated programs of natural resources management and biodiversity conservation, with the objective to contribute in reducing poverty and increasing the living standard, especially of rural communities. In addition, the implementation of the biosphere reserve concept is also aimed to help reducing the loss of biodiversity, facilitating scientific development and bulding the capacity in the context of providing services neccessary for ecological sustainability.

We describe a new species of Crocidura (Soricidae) from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, documenting its novelty with both genetic and morphological characters. The new species is widespread on the island, with vouchered records from nine general localities distributed among five of the island’s areas of endemism. Morphologically, the new species is readily distinguished from all other described Sulawesi Crocidura by its intermediate body size, gray pelage, and long, hairy tail. The new species was mainly captured in pitfalls placed in the ground, but we also obtained evidence that it readily climbs trees and may be scansorial in its locomotor habits. Populations of the new species sampled from across the island are closely related, separated by < 0.02 uncorrected mitochondrial p-distances. The new species is one member of an endemic radiation of shrews on Sulawesi now known to contain six valid species and several undescribed species, all within the genus Crocidura. Resolution of species limits and phylogenetic relationships in this radiation is hindered by habitat loss at type localities, historical designation of new species using very small sample sizes, and a lack of genetic data from type specimens.Kami mendeskripsikan spesies baru Crocidura (Soricidae) dari Pulau Sulawesi, Indonesia, sekaligus mendokumentasikan keunikan karakter secara genetik maupun morfologi dari spesies tersebut. Spesies baru ini tersebar luas di Pulau Sulawesi, diketahui berdasarkan spesimen yang berasal dari sembilan lokasi umum yang tersebar di lima kawasan endemik di pulau tersebut. Secara morfologi, spesies baru ini dapat dibedakan dari spesies Crocidura lainnya dari Sulawesi berdasarkan ukuran tubuh yang sedang, rambut tubuh berwarna abu-abu, dan ekor yang panjang dan berambut. Spesies baru ini sebagian besar diperoleh dari perangkap sumuran yang ditanam didalam tanah, selain itu kami juga mendapatkan bukti bahwa spesies ini mampu memanjat pohon dan kemungkinan memiliki perilaku sebagai pemanjat. Beberapa populasi spesies yang dikoleksi dari Sulawesi ini mempunyai kekerabatan yang dekat, hanya dipisahkan oleh jarak proporsi DNA mitokondria (tidak terkoreksi) sebesar < 0.02. Spesies baru ini merupakan salah satu anggota dari suatu kelompok radiasi endemik cecurut di Sulawesi yang sampai saat ini diketahui terdiri atas enam spesies yang valid, dan beberapa spesies yang belum dideskripsikan, semuanya termasuk didalam genus Crocidura. Kepastian dalam menetapkan batasan jarak antar spesies dan hubungan kekerabatan genetik dari radiasi kelompok cecurut di Sulawesi terkendala oleh kerusakan habitat pada lokasi spesimen tipe, sejarah penamaan spesies yang hanya berdasarkan sampel yang sedikit, dan keterbatasan data molekuler dari spesimen tipe.

Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica) is one of the Indonesian endemic species which is often sought after for their meat. Although it is becoming increasingly popular for extreme culinary, information regarding biological risks arising from this wildlife is very limited. This study aimed to assess potential zoonotic faecal bacteria carried by Sunda porcupine with culture-dependant approach and to investigate whether antimicrobial resistant isolates can be found in wildlife. A total 22 faecal samples were collected from captive Sunda porcupine and tested for the presence of pathogens in selective media for Salmonella and Listeria. After inoculating the samples in Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV) Salmonella enrichment broth, two samples (9%) were regarded as positive for Salmonella in this presumptive test which indicated by growth black colonies on xylose lysine deoxycholate (XLD) agar. Meanwhile, the presence for Listeria was presumptively positive in all samples (100%), indicated by black colour appearance in Listeria isolation transwab. In total, 38 bacterial isolates were successfully purified, preserved and subjected for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) by disk diffusion method. Resistance to ceftriaxone (3rd generation cephalosporins) was not detected while resistance to one or two antimicrobials was observed in seven isolates. Further, 16S rRNA bacterial identification was performed for selected isolates and based on sequence similarity on GenBank® databases and phylogenetic tree construction, those isolates were denoted as Pseudomonas xinjiangensis (XG4.4), Shigella sonnei (XD8.2 and G11.3), Proteus mirabilis (XH3.3, H4.2, and E1.2) and Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae (XF4.2). All identified isolates were sensitive to amikacin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefoxitin and ceftriaxone, except for one isolate Shigella sonnei (XD8.2) which was resistant to cefoxitin. Further research to confirm the pathogenicity of the isolates is still needed but based on these results, we support the hypothesies that Sunda porcupine is potential as a reservoir pathogenic bacteria and preventive measures are crucial to prevent transmission when processing this bushmeat.

Adaptive radiations are characterized by the diversification and ecological differentiation of species, and replicated cases of this process provide natural experiments for understanding the repeatability and pace of molecular evolution. During adaptive radiation, genes related to ecological specialization may be subject to recurrent positive directional selection. However, it is not clear to what extent patterns of lineage-specific ecological specialization (including phenotypic convergence) are correlated with shared signatures of molecular evolution. To test this, we sequenced whole exomes from a phylogenetically dispersed sample of 38 murine rodent species, a group characterized by multiple, nested adaptive radiations comprising extensive ecological and phenotypic diversity. We found that genes associated with immunity, reproduction, diet, digestion, and taste have been subject to pervasive positive selection during the diversification of murine rodents. We also found a significant correlation between genome-wide positive selection and dietary specialization, with a higher proportion of positively selected codon sites in derived dietary forms (i.e., carnivores and herbivores) than in ancestral forms (i.e., omnivores). Despite striking convergent evolution of skull morphology and dentition in two distantly related worm-eating specialists, we did not detect more genes with shared signatures of positive or relaxed selection than in a nonconvergent species comparison. Although a small number of the genes we detected can be incidentally linked to craniofacial morphology or diet, protein-coding regions are unlikely to be the primary genetic basis of this complex convergent phenotype. Our results suggest a link between positive selection and derived ecological phenotypes, and highlight specific genes and general functional categories that may have played an integral role in the extensive and rapid diversification of murine rodents.

We documented preliminary study of coat color variations within Maxomys, one of the most common rats in the Southeast Asian region. We sampled the skin specimens that mostly deposited at Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Indonesia. Quantitative measurements of coat color using spectrophotometer revealed no significant difference in the dorsal pelage showing mostly dark brown (L*= 25-30, a*= 5-7, b*= 10-15). The ventral colorations were variable among the species. We classified five different color types based on the measurements: whitish grey (M. baeodon, M. whiteheadi, M. musschenbroekii, M. bartelsii, and M. dollmani), orange dark brown (M. hylomyoides), chestnut orange (M. ochraceiventer), yellowish brown (M. alticola) and creamy white (M. rajah, M. hellwaldii, and M. surifer). These fur color characteristics can be useful in species recognition, together with the craniometric features. Furthermore, molecular study of coat color variation within Maxomys spp. is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of phenotypic variation in morphology that affect the patterns of divergence, speciation and evolutionary history of Maxomys. Here, we failed to obtain the sequences from Maxomys using Mc1r (melanocortin-1 receptor) gene, and probably will be better to use other gene such as ASIP (agouti signaling peptide) gene.

Taxonomic studies on Trachypithecus species in Indonesia define that this genus separated into two species that are Trachypithecus auratus and Trachypithecus cristatus with Trachypithecus auratus auratus as a subspecies. To determine relative brain size differences between species of the genus Trachypithecus in Indonesia and to examine clinal variation, a study related to brain size and morphological characters that affect the brain size is carried out. This study analyzes the brain volume between both species and examines its relationship with morphometric measurement and variables such as sex, age, and specimen location. Brain volumes were calculated from braincase volumes using 0.5 mm silica gel as mini beads. This study reveals that there are significant differences in relative brain size inter-species, sex, age and interaction among variable. Overall, T. auratus have a bigger brain size than T. cristatus, and the brain size of males are larger than females. The older individual tends to have similar brain size with younger ones. The different relative brain size on age level influenced by GSL size. Allometric body size affects the size of the brain directly. Also, there is a clinal trend in relative brain size. Trachypithecus auratus brain size is increasing from West Java to Lombok island. Further study is needed to understand the influence of external factor such as ecological and social factors on brain size in Trachypithecus.

Buku ini berisi 52 spesies mamalia terpilih di Pulau Jawa dengan kriteria endemik, status konservasi, peran alamiah penting dan keunikannya; dilengkapi dengan nama ilmiah, nama lokal, gambar dan peta sebaran. Ditulis secara rinci dengan gaya bahasa yang sederhana dan lugas sehingga mudah dipahami berbagai kalangan. Detail informasi yang disajikan dalam buku ini meliputi klasifikasi, deskripsi, ekologi, habitat, ancaman, dan status konservasinya sesuai dengan Permen LHK No. 106 Tahun 2018 serta status populasinya menurut IUCN dan CITES. Buku ini diharapkan dapat membantu para pengambil kebijakan dan masyarakat dalam mengenal lebih jauh mamalia yang ada di Pulau Jawa dan membantu dalam upaya konservasinya. Selain itu juga untuk melengkapi khazanah ilmu pengetahuan di Indonesia.

The relationship between organismal function and form is a cornerstone of biology because functional diversity is key to generating and maintaining ecological diversity. Morphological changes often occur in unison with behavioral or ecological transitions, and this process may foster diversification, but alternately could trap a species on an adaptive peak. We estimated the most comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis of Murinae, a young (∼15 million years) and diverse (∼700 species) clade of mammals. We then tested for correlated evolution among four morphological traits with potential links to locomotor modes (Arboreal, General, Terrestrial, and Amphibious), then investigated the effects of locomotion on morphological and lineage diversification. We found unique combinations of trait values for each locomotor mode, including strong covariance between the tail and hindfoot lengths of specialized Arboreal and ecologically flexible General species. Low diversification rates and long branch lengths suggest that specialized lineages represent stable evolutionary "cul-de-sacs." General species, characterized by the classic "rat-like" body plan and broad locomotor abilities, have narrow optimal trait values and slow phenotypic evolution, but high lineage diversification rates. Our findings suggest that versatile, generalist forms act as seeds of species diversity and morphological specialization, which together build ecologically diverse radiations.

International audience; Olfaction and thermoregulation are key functions for mammals. The former is critical to feeding, mating, and predator avoidance behaviors, while the latter is essential for homeothermy. Aquatic and amphibious mammals face olfactory and thermoregulatory challenges not generally encountered by terrestrial species. In mammals, the nasal cavity houses a bony system supporting soft tissues and sensory organs implicated in either olfactory or thermoregulatory functions. It is hypothesized that to cope with aquatic environments, amphibious mammals have expanded their thermoregulatory capacity at the expense of their olfactory system. We investigated the evolutionary history of this potential trade-off using a comparative dataset of three-dimensional (3D) CT scans of 189 skulls, capturing 17 independent transitions from a strictly terrestrial to an amphibious lifestyle across small mammals (Afrosoricida, Eulipotyphla, and Rodentia). We identified rapid and repeated loss of olfactory capacities synchronously associated with gains in thermoregulatory capacity in amphibious taxa sampled from across mammalian phylogenetic diversity. Evolutionary models further reveal that these convergences result from faster rates of turbinal bone evolution and release of selective constraints on the thermoregulatory-olfaction trade-off in amphibious species. Lastly, we demonstrated that traits related to vital functions evolved faster to the optimum compared to traits that are not related to vital functions.

Arboreal locomotion allows access to above-ground resources and might have fostered the diversification of mammals. Nevertheless, simple morphological measurements that consistently correlate with arboreality remain indefinable. As such, the climbing habits of many species of mammals, living and extinct, remain speculative. We collected quantitative data on the climbing tendencies of 20 species of murine rodents, an ecologically and morphologically diverse clade. We leveraged Bayesian phylogenetic mixed models (BPMMs), incorporating intraspecific variation and phylogenetic uncertainty, to determine which, if any, traits (17 skeletal indices) predict climbing frequency. We used ordinal BPMMs to test the ability of the indices to place 48 murine species that lack quantitative climbing data into three qualitative locomotor categories (terrestrial, general and arboreal). Only two indices (both measures of relative digit length) accurately predict locomotor styles, with manus digit length showing the best fit. Manus digit length has low phylogenetic signal, is largely explained by locomotor ecology and might effectively predict locomotion across a multitude of small mammals, including extinct species. Surprisingly, relative tail length, a common proxy for locomotion, was a poor predictor of climbing. In general, detailed, quantitative natural history data, such as those presented here, are needed to enhance our understanding of the evolutionary and ecological success of clades.

Island systems are important models for evolutionary biology because they provide convenient, discrete biogeographic units of study. Continental islands with a history of intermittent dry land connections confound the discrete definitions of islands and have led zoologists to predict (1) little differentiation of terrestrial organisms among continental shelf islands and (2) extinction, rather than speciation, to be the main cause of differences in community composition among islands. However, few continental island systems have been subjected to well-sampled phylogeographic studies, leaving these biogeographic assumptions of connectivity largely untested. We analyzed nine unlinked loci from shrews of the genus Crocidura from seven mountains and two lowland localities on the Sundaic continental shelf islands of Sumatra and Java. Coalescent species delimitation strongly supported all currently recognized Crocidura species from Sumatra (six species) and Java (five species), as well as one undescribed species endemic to each island. We find that nearly all species of Crocidura in the region are endemic to a single island and several of these have their closest relative(s) on the same island. Intra-island genetic divergence among allopatric, conspecific populations is often substantial, perhaps indicating species-level diversity remains underestimated. One recent (Pleistocene) speciation event generated two morphologically distinct, syntopic species on Java, further highlighting the prevalence of within-island diversification. Our results suggest that both between- and within-island speciation processes generated local endemism in Sundaland, supplementing the traditional view that the region's fauna is relictual and primarily governed by extinction. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

We document a new genus and species of rodent (Muridae) from the west-central region of Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. The new taxon is known only from the type locality at around 1,600 m elevation on Mt. Gandangdewata of the Quarles Range, in the district of Mamasa. With phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences from 5 unlinked loci, we infer that the new taxon is sister to the Sulawesi water rat, Waiomys mamasae , and nested within a clade of rodents from Sulawesi that otherwise feed exclusively on invertebrates. The new species is distinguishable from other rodents of Sulawesi by the combination of its small, slender body; soft, gray–brown fur; small, rounded ears; long, sparsely haired tail; long, fine mystacial vibrissae; gracile cranium; short rostrum; pronounced lacrimal bone; prominent, sickle-shaped coronoid process; and pale orange enamel on labial surface of incisors. Unlike its closest relatives, the new species feeds on both plant and animal matter, and may represent a rare evolutionary reversal of traits associated with a carnivorous diet in murids. Kami mendokumentasikan genus dan spesies hewan pengerat (Muridae) baru dari bagian tengah-barat Pulau Sulawesi, Indonesia. Takson baru ini hanya diketahui dari lokasi spesimen tipe pada ketinggian sekitar 1600 meter di Gunung Gandangdewata yang termasuk dalam rangkaian Pegunungan Quarlesi, Kabupaten Mamasa. Analisa filogenetik pada sekuen DNA dari 5 loci yang tidak terhubung menunjukkan bahwa takson baru ini merupakan kerabat dekat tikus air Sulawesi , Waiomys mamasae, dan berada pada kelompok hewan pengerat lainnya dari Sulawesi yang hanya memakan invertebrata. Spesies baru ini dibedakan dari hewan pengerat lainnya dari Sulawesi berdasarkan kombinasi beberapa karakter yaitu: tubuh ramping; rambut lembut abu-abu coklat; telinga kecil dan membulat; ekor panjang dan berambut jarang; kumis panjang dan tipis; tengkorak ramping; tulang hidung pendek; tulang lakrimal jelas; coronoid process tampak jelas dan berbentuk bulan sabit; dan enamel berwarna oranye muda pada penampang labial dari gigi seri. Tidak seperti kerabat terdekatnya, species baru ini memakan unsur tumbuhan maupun hewan, dan kemungkinan besar menunjukkan proses evolusi langka yang berbalik dari ciri yang diasosiasi dengan salah satu pemakan daging pada jenis Muridae.

The Indonesian island of Sulawesi is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot with substantial undescribed biota, particularly blood-borne parasites of endemic wildlife. Documenting the blood parasites of Sulawesi's murine rodents is the first fundamental step towards the discovery of pathogens likely to be of concern for the health and conservation of Sulawesi's endemic murines. We screened liver samples from 441 specimens belonging to 20 different species of murine rodents from 2 mountain ranges on Sulawesi, using polymerase chin reaction (PCR) primers targeting the conserved 18S rDNA region across the protozoan class Kinetoplastea. We detected infections in 156 specimens (10 host species) with a mean prevalence of 35.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 30.9-39.8%). Sequences from these samples identified 4 infections to the genus Parabodo, 1 to Blechomonas, and the remaining 151 to the genus Trypanosoma. Within Trypanosoma, we recovered 17 haplotypes nested within the Trypanosoma theileri clade infecting 117 specimens (8 host species) and 4 haplotypes nested within the Trypanosoma lewisi clade infecting 34 specimens (6 host species). Haplotypes within the T. theileri clade were related to regional Indo-Australian endemic trypanosomes, displayed geographic structuring but with evidence of long-term connectivity between mountains, and had substantial phylogenetic diversity. These results suggest T. theileri clade parasites are native to Sulawesi. Conversely, T. lewisi clade haplotypes were recovered from both endemic and introduced rodents, demonstrated complete geographic separation between clades, and had low genetic diversity. These results suggest that the T. lewisi clade parasites invaded Sulawesi recently and likely in 2 separate invasion events. Our results provide the first records of metakinetoplastids in Sulawesi's rodents and highlight the need for more extensive sampling for pathogens in this biodiversity hotspot.

Convergent evolution, often observed in island archipelagos, provides compelling evidence for the importance of natural selection as a generator of species and ecological diversity. The Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA) is the world's largest island system and encompasses distinct biogeographic units, including the Asian (Sunda) and Australian (Sahul) continental shelves, which together bracket the oceanic archipelagos of the Philippines and Wallacea. Each of these biogeographic units houses numerous endemic rodents in the family Muridae. Carnivorous murids, that is those that feed on animals, have evolved independently in Sunda, Sulawesi (part of Wallacea), the Philippines, and Sahul, but the number of origins of carnivory among IAA murids is unknown. We conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of carnivorous murids of the IAA, combined with estimates of ancestral states for broad diet categories (herbivore, omnivore, and carnivore) and geographic ranges. These analyses demonstrate that carnivory evolved independently four times after overwater colonization, including in situ origins on the Philippines, Sulawesi, and Sahul. In each biogeographic unit the origin of carnivory was followed by evolution of more specialized carnivorous ecomorphs such as vermivores, insectivores, and amphibious rats.

We document a new genus and species of shrew rat from the north peninsula of Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. The new taxon is known only from the type locality at 1,600 m elevation on Mt. Dako, in the district of Tolitoli. It is distinguished from all other Indonesian murines by its large, flat, pink nose with forward-facing nares. Relative to other Sulawesi murines, the species has extremely large ears (~ 21% of head and body length), very long urogenital hairs, prominent and medially bowing hamular processes on the pterygoid bones, extremely long and procumbent lower incisors, and unusually long articular surfaces on the mandibular condyles. Morphologically, the new taxon is most similar to a group of endemic Sulawesi rats known commonly as “shrew rats.” These are long faced, carnivorous murines, and include the genera Echiothrix, Melasmothrix, Paucidentomys, Sommeromys, and Tateomys. Our Bayesian and likelihood analyses of DNA sequences concatenated from 5 unlinked loci infer the new shrew rat as sister to a clade consisting of Melasmothrix, Paucidentomys, and Echiothrix, suggesting that Sulawesi shrew rats represent a clade. The Sulawesi water rat, Waiomys mamasae, was sister to the shrew rats in our analyses. Discovery of this new genus and species brings known shrew rat diversity on Sulawesi to 6 genera and 8 species. The extent of morphological diversity among these animals is remarkable considering the small number of species currently known. Kami mendokumentasikan genus dan spesies baru tikus cucurut dari bagian semenanjung utara pulau Sulawesi, Indonesia. Takson baru ini hanya diketahui dari lokasi spesimen tipe pada ketinggian 1,600 mdpl di Gunung Dako, Kabupaten Tolitoli. Ia dibedakan dari spesies tikus Indonesia lainnya berdasarkan ukuran hidung yang besar, datar, berwarna merah muda dengan moncong hidung menghadap ke arah depan. Jika dibandingkan dengan spesies tikus Sulawesi lainnya, spesies ini memiliki telinga yang sangat besar (~ 21% dari panjang kepala dan badan), rambut urogenital yang sangat panjang, prosesus hamular yang jelas dan menonjol pada pertulangan pterygoid, gigi seri bagian bawah yang sangat panjang, dan penampang persendian yang panjang dan tidak biasa pada kondilus mandibula. Secara morfologi, takson ini lebih mirip dengan kelompok tikus endemik Sulawesi yang umumnya dikenal sebagai “tikus cucurut”. Kelompok ini dicirikan dengan mulut yang panjang, pemakan daging, dan termasuk didalamnya adalah genus Echiothrix, Melasmothrix, Paucidentomys, Sommeromys, dan Tateomys. Analisis Bayesian dan likelihood menggunakan sambungan sekuens DNA dari 5 lokus yang tidak terpaut menunjukkan spesies tikus cucurut baru ini berkerabat dekat dengan kelompok yang terdiri dari Melasmothrix, Paucidentomys, dan Echiothrix, memberi kesan tikus cucurut Sulawesi merepresentasikan suatu clade atau kelompok tersendiri. Tikus air Sulawesi, Waiomys mamasae, diketahui berkerabat dekat dengan tikus cucurut dalam analisis yang dilakukan. Penemuan genus dan spesies baru ini menambah keanekaragaman jenis tikus cucurut di Sulawesi yang telah diketahui menjadi 6 genera dan 8 spesies. Besarnya perbedaan morfologi di antara spesies-spesies tersebut merupakan sesuatu yang luar biasa mengingat sedikitnya jumlah spesies yang telah diketahui saat ini.

Carrion beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) is one of the scavengers which obtain nutrition from carcass decomposition which supported by the microbial symbionts through the mutual symbiosis. In this study, we characterized and compared the gut microbial community from the species of Nicrophorinae (Nicrophorus distinctus Grouvelle, 1885) and Silphinae (Necrophila renatae Portevin, 1920) from Dako Mountain, Central Sulawesi using 16S metagenomic approach. A total of 661 bacterial Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) at the species level were obtained from the guts of Ni. distinctus and Ne. renatae. Those numbers were predominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, followed by Bacteriodetes in both species. Interestingly, a high number of Lactobacillales was observed in Ni. distinctus and lower number in Clostridiales and Cardiobacteriales compared to Ne. renatae, which showed higher abundance of those classes. Both of these insect species have nearly the same microbial diversity values, even though there some lower taxa levels were found different abundance. These results suggest that the patterns of the gut microbial structure depicted their roles in certain behavior and habitat on decomposing carcasses and could be correlated to the specific level of taxa roles in nutrient processing.

We document the existence of a new species of shrew (Soricomorpha, Soricidae, Crocidura) in West Java, Indonesia, using both morphological and genetic data. Relative to other Southeast Asian Crocidura, the new species is medium-sized with a slender body and long tail, which together readily distinguish it from all other Javan shrews. Morphological differences between the new species and Crocidura paradoxura, another long-tailed shrew that is endemic to Sumatra, are subtle, but genetic differences suggest a long, independent evolutionary history. This description brings to 5 the total number of species of Crocidura recognized from Java. All 5 species are endemic to the island and as many as 4 occur in syntopy. Further investigation is needed to document geographical ranges of shrew species on Java, especially along the island's east–west climatic gradient, where previously proposed subspecies boundaries may be coincident with transitions in precipitation patterns.

Knowledge of the diversity and relationships of species in many groups of plants and animals in Southeast Asia is severely limited, preventing an integrative understanding of evolutionary and ecological processes in island archipelagos. We generated a 3-locus DNA sequence data set to estimate phylogenetic relationships among species and populations of Maxomys, a genus of rodents endemic to Southeast Asia. Our inclusion of Crunomys as a potential outgroup supported the monophyly of Crunomys, but the genus was deeply nested within Maxomys. Because of the relatively ancient divergences (mean uncorrected p-distances up to 0.15 in cytochrome-b sequences) among species of Maxomys and short branch lengths among basal lineages of the phylogeny, we obtained little support for the oldest relationships in Maxomys þ Crunomys. However, our analyses revealed unrecognized diversity in the form of divergent populations both between and within islands and the presence of 2 potentially undescribed species from Sulawesi. The Maxomys and Crunomys of Sulawesi belonged to 4 clades sister to extralimital species, suggesting that repeated overwater dispersal between Sundaland–Philippines and Sulawesi was an important isolating mechanism in the history of this group.

In theory, competition among species in a shared habitat results in niche separation. In the case of small recondite mammals such as shrews, little is known about their autecologies, leaving open questions regarding the degree to which closely related species co-occur and how or whether ecological niches are partitioned. The extent to which species are able to coexist may depend on the degree to which they exploit different features of their habitat, which may in turn influence our ability to recognize them as species. We explored these issues in a biodiversity hotspot, by surveying shrew (genus Crocidura) diversity on the Indonesian island of Java. We sequenced portions of nine unlinked genes in 100-117 specimens of Javan shrews and incorporated homologous data from most known Crocidura species from other parts of island South-East Asia. Current taxonomy recognizes four Crocidura species on Java, including two endemics. However, our phylogenetic, population genetic and species delimitation analyses identify five species on the island, and all are endemic to Java. While the individual ranges of these species may not overlap in their entirety, we found up to four species living syntopically and all five species co-occurring on one mountain. Differences in species' body size, use of above ground-level habitats by one species and habitat partitioning along ecological gradients may have facilitated species diversification and coexistence.

Phylogeographic research on endemic primates and amphibians inhabiting the Indonesian island of Sulawesi revealed the existence of seven areas of endemism (AoEs). Here, we use phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of one mitochondrial gene and 15 nuclear loci to assess geographic patterns of genetic partitioning in a shrew (Crocidura elongata) that is endemic to Sulawesi, but occurs across the island. We uncover substantial genetic diversity in this species both between and within AoEs, but we also identify close relationships between populations residing in different AoEs. One of the earliest divergences within C. elongata distinguishes a high-elevation clade from low-elevation clades. In addition, on one mountain, we observe three distinct genetic groups from low, middle, and high elevations, suggesting divergence along a single elevational gradient. In general, our results show that C. elongata, like several other Sulawesi endemic taxa, harbors extensive genetic diversity. This diversity is structured in part by known AoE boundaries, but also by elevational gradients and geographic isolation within AoEs.

Rodents are important ecological components of virtually every terrestrial ecosystem. Their success is a result of their gnawing incisors, battery of grinding molars and diastema that spatially and functionally separates the incisors from the molars. Until now these traits defined all rodents. Here, we describe a new species and genus of shrew-rat from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia that is distinguished from all other rodents by the absence of cheek teeth. Moreover, rather than gnawing incisors, this animal has bicuspid upper incisors, also unique among the more than 2200 species of rodents. Stomach contents from a single specimen suggest that the species consumes only earthworms. We posit that by specializing on soft-bodied prey, this species has had no need to process food by chewing, allowing its dentition to evolve for the sole purpose of procuring food. Thus, the removal of functional constraints, often considered a source of evolutionary innovations, may also lead to the loss of the very same traits that fuelled evolutionary diversification in the past.

The Indonesian Archipelago harbors unique fauna with a high level of species diversity and endemism. In this report, we provide basic information on the spatial and temporal aspects of the animal ecosystem in the Indonesian Islands. We discuss four zoogeographic topics, including (1) lineage dispersal events from the continents to the Islands, (2) speciation processes in the insular area, (3) accelerated phenotypic evolution and (4) human impact on commensal animals compared to previous cases in the Japanese Archipelago, in which the same eustatic geological events and global climatic changes have occurred.

Convergent evolution, often observed in island archipelagos, provides compelling evidence for the importance of natural selection as a generator of species and ecological diversity. The Indo-Australian Archipelago (IAA) is the world's largest island system and encompasses distinct biogeographic units, including the Asian (Sunda) and Australian (Sahul) continental shelves, which together bracket the oceanic archipelagos of the Philippines and Wallacea. Each of these biogeographic units houses numerous endemic rodents in the family Muridae. Carnivorous murids, that is those that feed on animals, have evolved independently in Sunda, Sulawesi (part of Wallacea), the Philippines, and Sahul, but the number of origins of carnivory among IAA murids is unknown. We conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of carnivorous murids of the IAA, combined with estimates of ancestral states for broad diet categories (herbivore, omnivore, and carnivore) and geographic ranges. These analyses demonstrate that carnivory evolved independently four times after overwater colonization, including in situ origins on the Philippines, Sulawesi, and Sahul. In each biogeographic unit the origin of carnivory was followed by evolution of more specialized carnivorous ecomorphs such as vermivores, insectivores, and amphibious rats.

The island of Sulawesi, in Indonesia, lies at the crossroads of the Indo-Australian Archipelago and has remained isolated from the Asian (Sunda) and Australian (Sahul) continental shelves for at least the last 10 million years. Of the 50 native species of rodents on Sulawesi, all are endemic and represent the evolution of a variety of ecological and morphological forms within the Muridae and Sciuridae. Carnivorous rodents have evolved, perhaps independently, in Muridae from the Philippines, Sulawesi, and Sahul, but semi-aquatic murids are only known from Sahul. Here we describe a new genus and species of insectivorous water rat from Sulawesi. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that it is related to the shrew rats of Sulawesi and represents an origin of aquatic carnivory that is independent from the evolution of water rats on Sahul. Many areas of Sulawesi have not been surveyed systematically and current lists of mammal species are likely to dramatically underestimate actual diversity.

We collected specimens of Sommer’s Sulawesi shrew-rat, Sommeromys macrorhinos, at three sites (1600, 2200, and 2600 m) and the Sulawesi small-bodied shrew-rat, Crunomys celebensis, at one site (1600 m) on Gunung Gandangdewata in the western block of the central core of Sulawesi during November 2011 and May 2012. Prior to 2011, S. macrorhinos was known only from the holotype, which was taken on 2 August 1973 at 2400 m near the summit of Gunung Tokala (upper montane forest). Previously, C. celebensis was known only from tropical lowland evergreen rain forest in the Danau Lindu valley and nearby upper drainage of the Sungai Miu in the northern portion of the westcentral mountain block in Sulawesi’s central core. The new specimens of S. macrorhinos and C. celebensis extend their known range of habitats to include the transition between lowland and montane forest. Because the original description of S. macrorhinos was based on a single specimen, we describe some external morphological features and provide measurements of new specimens as a supplement to the original description.Key words: Crunomys celebensis, morphology, shrew-rat, Sommeromys macrorhinos

The island of Sulawesi, in Indonesia, lies at the crossroads of the Indo-Australian Archipelago and has remained isolated from the Asian (Sunda) and Australian (Sahul) continental shelves for at least the last 10 million years. Of the 50 native species of rodents on Sulawesi, all are endemic and represent the evolution of a variety of ecological and morphological forms within the Muridae and Sciuridae. Carnivorous rodents have evolved, perhaps independently, in Muridae from the Philippines, Sulawesi, and Sahul, but semi-aquatic murids are only known from Sahul. Here we describe a new genus and species of insectivorous water rat from Sulawesi. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrate that it is related to the shrew rats of Sulawesi and represents an origin of aquatic carnivory that is independent from the evolution of water rats on Sahul. Many areas of Sulawesi have not been surveyed systematically and current lists of mammal species are likely to dramatically underestimate actual diversity.