Evolutionary history and systematics of European blind mole rats (Rodentia: Spalacidae: Nannospalax): Multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation in a puzzling group

Németh, Attila; Mizsei, Edvárd; Laczkó, Levente; Czabán, Dávid; Hegyeli, Zsolt; Lengyel, Szabolcs; Csorba, Gábor; Sramkó, Gábor

doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107958

Cited by 3 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Both genes yielded almost identical topologies using two different molecular phylogenetic methods (BI and ML), a result that is consistent with formerly published phylogenies [ 15 , 16 , 20 , 21 ]. The estimates of evolutionary divergence confirmed the relationships in the phylogenetic trees.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…They described the species Nannospalax syrmiensis (Méhely 1909) with the karyotypic formula 2 n = 54, NF = 90 as a group of seven populations endemic to Serbia, inhabiting the plains of the Srem district and the right bank of the Sava and Danube rivers from the confluence of the Drina, with the Sava in the west and the Great Morava with the Danube in the east [ 11 ]. Later, the nomenclature Nannospalax leucodon syrmiensis was accepted and widely used in the literature [ 6 , 8 , 10 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 21 , 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They are known as typical inhabitants of the steppe-like grasslands, mountain steppes, and sand steppes, and they avoid marshy areas and quicksand [ 18 ]. Breeding experiments that revealed the complete reproductive isolation of seven N. leucodon CFs [ 8 , 11 , 19 ], substantiated by the results of molecular phylogenetic investigations [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 20 , 21 ], strongly suggest their cryptic-species status. The extent of their evolutionary divergence resembles that recorded among clearly distinguishable Spalax species [ 14 , 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Almost 35 years after the last data were published, Bugarski-Stanojević et al [ 21 ] reported newly captured N. l. syrmiensis specimens in Serbia. Despite these results, in the latest comprehensive study, which included 22 N. leucodon CFs, Németh et al [ 16 ] referred to N. l. syrmiensis as a missing taxon and “ incertae sedis ”.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…MtDNA genes were selected instead of nuclear genes to increase the success rate of sequencing from old archived material. The mentioned methods have already proven to be excellent for the identification of BMR cryptic species [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 21 ]. The 16SrRNA gene is regularly used to identify well-differentiated species, genera and distantly related taxa [ 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Cryptic Subterranean Mammal Species, the Lesser Blind Mole Rat (Nannospalax leucodon syrmiensis)—Retreated but Not Extinct

Bugarski-Stanojević,

Đokić,

Stamenković

et al. 2024

Animals

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Blind mole rats (genus Nannospalax) attract a great deal of attention because of their cancer resistance and longevity. Due to the high rate of chromosome rearrangements, 74 Nannospalax chromosomal forms have been discovered. The convergence of their external morphology complicates their taxonomy, and many cryptic species remain unrecognized. Thus, the European N. leucodon supersp. is listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with “Data Deficient” status. It is crucial for the conservation of biodiversity to clarify its taxonomy, to recognize each cryptic species, and assign to them the correct conservation status. Of the more than 20 chromosomal forms described within N. leucodon, five cryptic species occur in Serbia. The most threatened among them—N. l. syrmiensis, described and named 50 years ago in the regions of Srem, Belgrade and Mačva—has been declared extinct in the literature, which may have negative consequences for the conservation of wildlife genetic diversity. Through five years of fieldwork and comparison of 16SrRNA and MT-CYTB gene segments between old, archived teeth and recently collected material, we show that N. l. syrmiensis is not extinct. However, its habitat has been fragmented and reduced, owing primarily to anthropogenic impact. Therefore, detailed surveillance, population-structure studies, risk assessment, and appropriate conservation measures are needed.

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