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The biology of an isolated Mashona mole-rat population from southern Malawi, with implications for the diversity and biogeography of the genus Fukomys.
- Source :
-
Organisms Diversity & Evolution . Sep2023, Vol. 23 Issue 3, p603-620. 18p. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- The Mashona mole-rat, Fukomys darlingi (Thomas, 1895), is a little studied social African mole-rat (Bathyergidae) from south-astern Africa. Here, we present an integrative study characterizing the genetic diversity of populations assigned to F. darlingi with special focus on animals from Nsanje, southern Malawi. These mole-rats show pronounced differences in body mass and general appearance compared to nominate F. darlingi from Zimbabwe and Mozambique, but their taxonomic status has so far remained unclear. A genetic analysis encompassing all major lineages of the genus Fukomys suggests that this population indeed represents a deeply nested lineage within the F. darlingi clade. The karyotype of the Nsanje mole-rats also corresponds to that of the nominate form, being 2n = 54. While both nuclear and mitochondrial data agree about the assignment of the Nsanje mole-rats to F. darlingi, our analyses revealed substantial mitonuclear discordance for other branches within the Fukomys phylogenetic tree. Nsanje mole-rats are significantly larger than nominate F. darlingi and their ontogeny and reproduction closely resemble similar-sized congeneric species rather than the nominate population. The somatic growth of the Nsanje form is the slowest of all African mole-rats. The maximum life span of F. darlingi is at least 19 years. The observed differences between nominate F. darlingi and mole-rats from Nsanje may be attributed mainly to their different body mass. Our study highlights the advantages of an integrative approach for understanding the diversity of African mole-rats and emphasizes the great intraspecific variability that may be encountered in these underground-dwelling rodents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *BIOGEOGRAPHY
*BIOLOGY
*GENETIC variation
*LIFE spans
*KARYOTYPES
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14396092
- Volume :
- 23
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Organisms Diversity & Evolution
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 170715350
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-023-00604-z