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Evolution of the Grey-bellied pygmy mouse group: Highly structured molecular diversity with predictable geographic ranges but morphological crypsis
- Source :
- Molecular phylogenetics and evolution. 130
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
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 2.0 Ma). The phylogeographic structure of the species was likely shaped by Pleistocene climatic oscillations and the highly diverse topography of eastern Africa.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine
Most recent common ancestor
Species complex
Nannomys
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
03 medical and health sciences
Mice
Genetics
Animals
Sigmodontinae
Molecular Biology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Phylogeny
biology
Genetic Variation
Africa, Eastern
biology.organism_classification
Phylogeography
030104 developmental biology
Taxon
Evolutionary biology
Molecular phylogenetics
Genetic structure
Mus triton
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10959513
- Volume :
- 130
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Molecular phylogenetics and evolution
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....926dd269eeb498d6ebc3ca3573d003ca