Analysis of the chromosomal characteristics of the Maximowicz's vole Microtus maximowiczii (242 specimens) from Transbaikalia, Russian Far East, and Mongolia, including new data from 12 local populations, supplemented information about chromosomal polymorphism of the species (2n=36-44; NF=52-62). We describe chromosomal data for the populations which have not been investigated previously, reveal a fixation of the chromosomal reconstructions in the various geographical regions and describe for the first time the population with stabilized karyotype (2n=42) in the Chita Region. The revision of the chromosomal characteristics has been done, that resulted in suggestion to consider five forms in the species composition, three of which (C, D and I) are established herein. Perhaps M. m. gromovi exemplified by the chromosome form I should be considered as an independent species. The chromosomal forms differ not only in 2n and NF, but also in number of the biarmed and acrocentric chromosomes.
Two new species of white-toothed shrews, Crocidura afeworkbekelei and Crocidura yaldeni, are described from southern Ethiopia. Comparisons are made with other species of Crocidura known to occur in Ethiopia. A list of 28 species of shrews known from Ethiopia is provided, 10 of which (including both newly described species) are currently considered to be endemic to Ethiopia. The endemic shrew fauna consists of forest and montane species known to occur within the altitudinal range of 1200-4050 m a.s.l. The remarkable number of endemic species of Crocidura shows that the Ethiopian Plateau is an important centre of diversity and adaptive radiation of the genus. Current cytogenetic and molecular data support the monophyly of most species of Crocidura endemic to Ethiopia.
ABSTRACT. The variation of quantitative characters of the first lower molar was analysed in nine species of Far-Eastern voles Alexandromys from Russian fauna. Canonical variation analysis revealed that main differences were associated with oeconomus-like fusion, and clearly differentiates A. oeconomus, A. mongolicus and A. gromovi from other species. The results of UPGMA cluster analysis based on the average Procrustes distances did not agree with recent molecular studies. Discriminant analysis of Procrustes coordinates of 19 landmarks showed that the percentage of correct species classifications of samples vary from 50% to 100%. Linear measurements together with shape features can be used for identification of the following species: A. oeconomus, A. mongolicus, and A.sachalinensis. Shape of enamel loops of the first lower molar of Far-Eastern grey voles can be used for species identification, but not for phylogenetic analysis.
Please cite this article as: Haring, E., Voyta, L.L., Däubl, B., Tiunov, M.P.,Comparison of genetic and morphological characters in fossil teeth of grey voles from the Russian Far East (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Alexandromys), Mammalian Biology (2015), http://dx.Abstract 25 Far-Eastern grey voles of the genus Alexandromys are a group of 12 species distributed exclusively 26 in the Eastern Palearctic. Morphologically they are hard to be distinguished due to interspecific 27 overlapping of several characters. In recent material of Alexandromys morphometric analyses of 28 teeth (in particular the first lower molar) proved to be a good tool for species identification, 29 although there are overlaps in several measurements. In subfossil and fossil material, preliminary 30 analyses indicated considerable variation in tooth morphology and, in comparison to extant species, 31 the presence of additional morphologically ambiguous forms. In the present study we tested in 32 subfossil and fossil teeth of the genus Alexandromys from Russian Far East whether taxonomic 33 classification based on morphology is in concordance with species determination based on DNA 34 analysis. We also asked whether the morphologically ambiguous forms could be assigned to 35 Page 2 of 24 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t described species by means of DNA sequence analysis. The material originated from Medvezhyi 36 Klyk Cave Deposits (Primorskyi Krai, Russia) and had an age of 2,000 -40,000 years. The results 37showed that the success rate in PCR amplification was~50% and it was possible to obtain PCR 38 products of >400 bp. The concordance between taxonomic assignment based on morphology and 39 genetics was high. Out of 17 samples that were successful in the sequence analysis, only one 40 yielded a classification that contradicts morphology and one specimen could not be classified since 41 the delivered sequence most probably is a numt (nuclear copy of mitochondrial origin). Although 42 only one of the four unidentified teeth in our sample was successful in the DNA analysis and 43 allowed taxonomic assignment, our results suggest that genetic species determination could be a 44 valuable tool to classify subfossil and fossil teeth in Arvicolinae. 45 46 47
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