Phylogenetic structure of the marsupial family dasyuridae based on cytochromeb DNA sequences

Archer provided the most recent and comprehensive suprageneric classification of dasyurid marsupials. Five extant subfamilies, two with constituent tribes, were recognized on the basis of morphological, serological, and allozyme data. Phylogenetic relationships among these groups, however, were totally unresolved. Subsequent molecular studies suggested that the endemic New Guinean subfamilies Muricinae and Phascolosoricinae are parts of larger Australian clades. Our objective in this study was to test the monophyly of Archer's seven groups and estimate relationships among them using DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochromeb (cyt-b) gene. We report 657 bp ofcyt-b from 32 dasyuroid species. Phylogenetic analysis of these data leads to the following conclusions: (1) muricines form a clade within Phascogalinae that includes endemic New GuineanAntechinus species; (2) the two genera of Phascolosoricinae are part of a more inclusive Dasyurinae; (3) Sminthopsinae is monophyletic, but the tribes Sminthopsini and Planigalini are not; and (4) the dasyurine tribes Dasyurini and Parantechini are probably not monophyletic. Relationships among Sminthopsinae, Dasyurinae (including phascolosoricines), and Phascogalinae (including muricines) remain unresolved.