Multilocus phylogeny and cryptic diversity in Asian shrew-like moles (Uropsilus, Talpidae): implications for taxonomy and conservation

Abstract

BackgroundThe genus Uropsilus comprises a group of terrestrial, montane mammals endemic to the Hengduan and adjacent mountains. These animals are the most primitive living talpids. The taxonomy has been primarily based on cursory morphological comparisons and the evolutionary affinities are little known. To provide insight into the systematics of this group, we estimated the first multi-locus phylogeny and conducted species delimitation, including taxon sampling throughout their distribution range.ResultsWe obtained two mitochondrial genes (~1, 985 bp) and eight nuclear genes (~4, 345 bp) from 56 specimens. Ten distinct evolutionary lineages were recovered from the three recognized species, eight of which were recognized as species/putative species. Five of these putative species were found to be masquerading as the gracile shrew mole. The divergence time estimation results indicated that climate change since the last Miocene and the uplift of the Himalayas may have resulted in the diversification and speciation of Uropsilus.ConclusionsThe cryptic diversity found in this study indicated that the number of species is strongly underestimated under the current taxonomy. Two synonyms of gracilis (atronates and nivatus) should be given full species status, and the taxonomic status of another three potential species should be evaluated using extensive taxon sampling, comprehensive morphological, and morphometric approaches. Consequently, the conservation status of Uropsilus spp. should also be re-evaluated, as most of the species/potential species have very limited distribution.

Characterization of the mitogenome of Uropsilus gracilis and species delimitation

“…The Asiatic shrew-like moles are terrestrial species, distributed almost entirely in southwestern China (Wan et al, 2013). There are 10 recognized species within the genus Uropsilus: U. aequodonenia, U. andersoni, U. atronates, U. gracilis, U. investigator, U. nivatus, U. sorcipes, U. sp.…”

“…2 and U. sp. Recently, Tu et al (2014a) based on Cytb genes constructed the phylogenetic tree following the study of Wan et al (2013) and reconsidered the specimen as U. sp. However, the mitogenome data (Tu et al, 2014a) of only five species (U. aequodonenia, U. andersoni, U. nivatus, U. sorcipes and U. sp.…”

Mitogenome of a cryptic species withinUropsilusand divergence time estimation

“…2, and U. sp. 3 (Liu et al 2013;Wan et al 2013). We collected a specimen, SAF_HB10N042, female, from Changyang county, Hubei province, China.…”

“…We collected a specimen, SAF_HB10N042, female, from Changyang county, Hubei province, China. By sequencing the cyt b gene and constructing a neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree following the study of Wan et al (2013), we identified this individual as a new cryptic species, Uropsilus sp. 4.…”

“…4 and its sister species, we performed the analysis using MEGA 6.06 (Tamura et al 2013) based on the NJ tree of PCGs. Two calibration points were defined (Wan et al 2013): (i) the oldest known Talpini was from the early Oligocene at approximately 33.9-32.6 million years ago (Ma); (ii) the oldest known U. soricipes was at 2.4-2.0 Ma.…”