A complete set of pika taxa, belonging to the subgenus Ochotona, was studied using craniometric and multilocus genetic analyses. We examined 1,007 skulls, covering the entire distribution range of the subgenus, as well as the mitochondrial COI gene and three nuclear introns in 31 specimens, representing nearly all taxa in question. An additional set of 167 COI gene sequences and 357 cytb gene sequences was analysed to enlarge the geographical extent of genetic data and to compare the results with previous publications. We found that the subgenus consists of eight species. One of them, Ochotona morosa, is elevated to the full species rank for the first time. The name of this species is given preliminarily and should be studied additionally. Several cases of interspecies hybridisation were found, which indicates that mitochondrial DNA cannot be used for species identification in this subgenus. Taxon Ochotona qionglaiensis, which was recently described as a separate species, represents a relic mitochondrial lineage of Ochotona thibetana. Another recently described species, Ochotona yarlungensis, is a Nubra pika with its native mitochondrial DNA, firstly found for this species. Intraspecies variation was analysed for several species for the first time. Thus, new subspecies (Ochotona thibetana fengii ssp. n.) was found within O. thibetana.
Phylogenetic relationships, taxonomy and nomenclature issues within East Asian voles Alexandromys were addressed using comprehensive species samples, including all 12 valid species of the genus, and multilocus analysis. We examined the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene and three nuclear genes in 36 specimens.Additionally, we examined a data set of 106 specimens using only the cytb gene. Our
K E Y W O R D SAlexandromys, multilocus analysis, phylogeny, taxonomy,
Pikas Ochotona Link, 1795 of the subgenus Conothoa Lyon, 1904, are small lagomorphs inhabiting the great mountain belt from the Tian Shan Mountains in the west through Pamir, Karakorum, the Himalayas, Kunlun and multiple mountain ridges of Tibet to the Hengduan Mountains in the east. They can live at extremely high altitudes of 2100-5700 m (mainly 3000-4500) above sea level (Lissovsky, 2016). Some species are strictly petrophylous species that live in talus, such as Ochotona macrotis (Günther, 1875), Ochotona iliensis Li and Ma,
Systematic position of the genus Habrodon was considered quite differently by various authors it was placed in Habrodontaceae, Fabroniaceae, Myriniaceae, Leskeaceae, and Pterigynandraceae. The analysis of nucleotide sequence data (chloroplast trnL-F region and nuclear ITS1 & ITS2) was undertaken to elucidate Habrodon relationshi ps. This analysis revealed quite distinct position of Habrodon from Leskea and Myrinia, and found Habrodon within a paraphyletic grade with Plagiotheciaceae (sensu lato, cf. Hedenäs, 1987; and Fabronia and sometimes also with Pterigynandrum.
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