Molecular Identification and Evolutionary Divergence of the Sri Lankan Sambar Deer, Rusa unicolor (Kerr 1792)

Abstract

The Sambar is one of the largest deer species distributed mainly in Asia, and it has been listed as a vulnerable species. Taxonomy based on morphological characterization has been the gold standard method used to identify the Sambar deer species. Yet, morphological identification is challenging and requires expertise. To conduct species identification and taxonomic decisions, we performed the molecular identification of R. unicolor found in Sri Lanka using DNA barcodes, COI, and Cyt b to compare the Sri Lankan R. unicolor with the Indian R. unicolor and other R. unicolor subspecies. We obtained mitochondrial DNA sequences from COI and Cyt b from blood samples collected from the wet zone in Sri Lanka. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the Bayesian analyses using MrBayes 3.2.7. Molecular dating was implemented in Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis Sampling Trees (BEAST v1.8.2) on the concatenated sequence using a log-normal relaxed clock and Yule species tree prior, with four categories. The results showed that the Sri Lankan R. unicolor is genetically different from the Indian R. unicolor and other R. unicolor subspecies. The divergence occurred approximately 1.1 MYA (million years ago) in the Pleistocene era. The results are essential for designing new conservation platforms for these Sambar deer species.

Molecular Identification of the Diversity of Insects, Spiders, Lizards, Birds and Mammals of Tuensang District, Nagaland, India

“…DNA barcodes cannot replace the need for taxonomists, but DNA barcodes provide an additional suite of characters that can be used in taxonomy, assisting identification of species by non-specialists with accurate identification of their specimens. When it comes to saving animals under difficult conditions, genetic information is extremely valuable 13 . A newly detailed understanding of species diversity can illuminate processes important in speciation, as suggested by the discovery that the most diverse lineages of animals.…”