Bones and genes: resolution problems in three Vietnamese species of Crocidura (Mammalia, Soricomorpha, Soricidae) and the description of an additional new species

Abstract

Recent investigations of Southeast Asian white toothed shrews belonging to the genus Crocidura have revealed discrepancies between the results of morphological and molecular studies. The following study concerns three species of Crocidura occurring in Vietnam, namely Crocidura attenuata, Crocidura tanakae and Crocidura wuchihensis, and an undescribed fourth species revealed by molecular analysis. For many years Crocidura attenuata has been known to occur in Vietnam but, until very recently, the morphologically similar and comparably sized Crocidura tanakae was believed to be restricted to Taiwan. Following several molecular studies over the last few years, this species is now believed to be considerably more widespread and recognised as occuring also in Vietnam. The results of one of these recent molecular studies also revealed the presence of an undescribed species of Crocidura, similar in size and morphology to Crocidura wuchihensis, which is herein described. Data are provided on geographical variation in Vietnam and the problems of defining morphologically similar yet molecularly disparate species are discussed.

Local endemism and within‐island diversification of shrews illustrate the importance of speciation in building Sundaland mammal diversity

“…This includes 19 of 20 species known from Sundaland and 28 of 49 species known from South‐East Asia east of the Thailand–Myanmar border and south of the Ryukyu Islands, including the Philippines and Sulawesi (Jenkins et al . , , ; Esselstyn & Goodman ; Esselstyn et al . , [and references therein]; Appendix S1, Supporting information).…”

Small mammals of the Song Thanh and Saola Quang Nam Nature Reserves, central Vietnam

“…A widespread and common species known throughout Vietnam , while a closely related Vietnamese species, C. attenuata, appears to occur only to the east of Red River, in northeastern Vietnam (Bannikova et al, 2011;Abramov et al, 2012), C. tanakae does not appear to be so restricted and has been recorded on both sides of the river in northern Vietnam and also in central and southern Vietnam (Bannikova et al, 2011;Jenkins et al, 2013). The genetically confirmed records are also known from Quang Nam Province (Esselstyn & Oliveros, 2010).…”

An annotated checklist of the insectivores (Mammalia, Lipotyphla) of Vietnam

“…Based on the cytochrome b analysis and morphology of the third lower molars m3, the confirmed specimens of C. sapaensis have been recorded from Lao Cai Province, Sa Pa District. Based on morphology, specimens from the northern part of Lao Cai Province, Ngai Tio (elevation 1450 m) and from the vicinity of Cat Cat Village near Sa Pa Town (elevation 14001450 m) in relatively close geographical proximity seem to also belong to the same species (Jenkins et al, 2013). …”

“…Tay Con Linh II, Ha Giang Province (Ohdachi et al, 2006;Esselstyn & Oliveros, 2010) and from Tam Dao, Vinh Phuc Province (Bannikova et al, 2011;ZIN collection). Based on morphology, the populations that seem to belong to this species also occur in Huong Son, Ha Tinh Province (Lunde et al, 2004;Jenkins et al, 2009), Ba Na, Quang Nam Province (Jenkins et al, 2009) and Pa Kha and Thai Nien, both in Lao Cai Province (Jenkins et al, 2013).…”

“…Based on the multivariate cranial analysis, Jenkins et al (2009) showed that two groups of C. wuchihensis (from northern and central Vietnam) were moderately well separated from each other. Lacking further evidence from molecular studies, it is impossible to see whether the population from the southern Annamites was correctly assigned to C. wuchihensis, or could it belong to C. sapaensis or indeed even represent a further undescribed species (see Jenkins et al, 2013). (Fig.…”