Molecular phylogeny of the Herpestidae (Mammalia, Carnivora) with a special emphasis on the Asian Herpestes

Patou, Marie-Lilith; McLenachan, Patricia A.; Morley, Craig; Couloux, Arnaud; Jennings, Andrew P.; Veron, Géraldine

doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.05.038

Cited by 66 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…All examined species including those taken from literature for comparison were taxonomically classified according to Wilson and Reeder (2005). However, the conspecific status of H. javanicus and H. auropunctatus has been recently challenged by molecular studies (Veron et al, 2007;Patou et al, 2009). Because of limitations in the number of serial sections per species, intraspecific variation was not considered.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Topography of the chorda tympani nerve and the tensor tympani muscle in carnivores provides a new synapomorphy for Herpestidae (Carnivora, Mammalia)

Ruf

Maier

2009

Journal of Morphology

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The topographical relationship of the chorda tympani nerve (chorda tympani) to the tensor tympani muscle in the middle ear of carnivores provides new phylogenetic information. The examination of histological serial sections of 16 carnivore species representing most families revealed two distinct character states concerning the course of the chorda tympani: a hypotensoric state with the nerve running below the insertion tendon of the tensor tympani muscle, and an epitensoric state with the nerve running above the tendon. The shift from the plesiomorphic hypotensoric chorda tympani to the apomorphic epitensoric condition occurred once in carnivore phylogeny: Only in the herpestid species under study does the chorda tympani cross above the tensor tympani muscle. Therefore, we introduce the epitensoric pattern as a new synapomorphy for herpestids. Within the herpestids we find the following structural distinctions: Herpestes javanicus and Galerella sanguinea have a chorda tympani running in a sulcus directly above the insertion of the tensor tympani muscle, whereas in the eusocial herpestid species Suricata suricatta and Mungos mungo the chorda tympani lies far above the insertion of the muscle.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Topography of the chorda tympani nerve and the tensor tympani muscle in carnivores provides a new synapomorphy for Herpestidae (Carnivora, Mammalia)

Ruf

Maier

2009

Journal of Morphology

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“…The family Herpestidae (cusimanses and mongooses) represents a monophyletic radiation of feliform carnivores closely related to the families Eupleridae (Malagasy mongooses), Nandiniidae (African palm civet) and Hy-aenidae (hyenas and aardwolves) [Wilson and Reeder, 2005;Patou et al, 2009;Nyakatura and Bininda-Emonds, 2012]. Cusimanses and mongooses are predominantly terrestrial and show a remarkable variation in microhabitat occupation, occurring in habitats ranging from open deserts to dense rainforests [Gilchrist et al, 2009].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ansorge's cusimanse belongs to an early branch of the herpestid evolutionary radiation [Patou et al, 2009;Nyakatura and Bininda-Emonds, 2012], thus representing an interesting model to identify basal retinal traits in this carnivore lineage. Here, we tested the following hypotheses: (a) in the retina of Ansorge's cusimanse, rods will be the most abundant photoreceptor type, conforming to the general mammalian retinal blueprint; (b) given the diurnal habit of this species, increased proportions of cones will be allocated differentially across the retina to afford enhanced photopic spatial resolution in regions of high cell density; (c) because Ansorge's cusimanses occur in rainforests, cone and retinal ganglion cell densities will be organized in a concentric fashion across the retina; (d) given this species' needs for active foraging, high densities of cone and retinal ganglion cells will lie in the temporal retina to afford enhanced spatial resolution in the frontal visual field, and (e) minimum convergence between cones and retinal ganglion cells will be found in high-density regions to enhance spatial visual function.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Retina of Ansorge's Cusimanse <b><i>(Crossarchus ansorgei)</i></b>: Number, Topography and Convergence of Photoreceptors and Ganglion Cells in Relation to Ecology and Behavior

Coimbra

Kaswera‐Kyamakya²,

Gilissen³

et al. 2015

Brain Behav Evol

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The family Herpestidae (cusimanses and mongooses) is a monophyletic radiation of carnivores with remarkable variation in microhabitat occupation and diel activity, but virtually nothing is known about how they use vision in the context of their behavioral ecology. In this paper, we measured the number and topographic distribution of neurons (rods, cones and retinal ganglion cells) and estimated the spatial resolving power of the eye of the diurnal, forest-dwelling Ansorge's cusimanse (Crossarchus ansorgei). Using retinal wholemounts and stereology, we found that rods are more numerous (42,500,000; 92%) than cones (3,900,000; 8%). Rod densities form a concentric and dorsotemporally asymmetric plateau that matches the location and shape of a bright yellow tapetum lucidum located within the dorsal aspect of the eye. Maximum rod density (340,300 cells/mm²) occurs within an elongated plateau below the optic disc that corresponds to a transitional region between the tapetum lucidum and the pigmented choroid. Cone densities form a temporal area with a peak density of 44,500 cells/mm² embedded in a weak horizontal streak that matches the topographic distribution of retinal ganglion cells. Convergence ratios of cones to retinal ganglion cells vary from 50:1 in the far periphery to 3:1 in the temporal area. With a ganglion cell peak density of 13,400 cells/mm² and an eye size of 11 mm in axial length, we estimated upper limits of spatial resolution of 7.5-8 cycles/degree, which is comparable to other carnivores such as hyenas. In conclusion, we suggest that the topographic retinal traits described for Ansorge's cusimanse conform to a presumed carnivore retinal blueprint but also show variations that reflect its specific ecological needs.

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“…There have been few previous reports on the distribution of the spiny rat, and the available information is derived from two trapping investigations and from analyses of the feces of invasive predators, such as feral cats Felis silvestris catus, dogs Canis lupus familiaris and mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus (Table 6). We used H. auropunctatus here instead of H. javanicus as the scientific name of the mongoose based on the recent molecular phylogenetical studies (Veron et al 2007;Gilchrist et al 2009;Patou et al 2009). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rediscovery After Thirty Years Since the Last Capture of the Critically Endangered Okinawa Spiny RatTokudaia muenninkiin the Northern Part of Okinawa Island

Yamada

Kawauchi²,

Nakata

et al. 2010

Mammal Study

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Abstract. The Okinawa spiny rat, Tokudaia muenninki, is a critically endangered species endemic to the northern part of Okinawa Island and may be extinct in the wild as there have been no recent sightings of the animal in its natural habitat. We initiated the present search to determine whether the spiny rat still exists in the northern part of Okinawa Island. Sensor cameras and traps were distributed across areas in which past studies had identified the location of occurrence of spiny rats. From a total of 1,276 camera-nights and 2,096 trap-nights from 2007 to 2009, we captured 24 spiny rats; however, we were only successful in identifying spiny rats in the northernmost of the areas sampled, with no indications of the spiny rat in the more southerly areas. The area in which the spiny rats were still present was estimated to be only 1-3 km 2 and is comprised of forest dominated by Castanopsis sieboldii, Lithocarpus edulis, Distylium racemosum and Schima wallichii. The trees range in age from about 30 to more than 100 years old, and have an average height of 12 m (range 7 m-16 m). Our rediscovery of the spiny rat in 2008 comes after an interval of 30 years since the previous trapping study in 1978 and seven years since indirect survey evidence from analysis of feral cat feces 2001. Measures for conservation of the location of the spiny rats are urgently required.

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Molecular phylogeny of the Herpestidae (Mammalia, Carnivora) with a special emphasis on the Asian Herpestes

Cited by 66 publications

References 51 publications

Topography of the chorda tympani nerve and the tensor tympani muscle in carnivores provides a new synapomorphy for Herpestidae (Carnivora, Mammalia)

Topography of the chorda tympani nerve and the tensor tympani muscle in carnivores provides a new synapomorphy for Herpestidae (Carnivora, Mammalia)

The Retina of Ansorge's Cusimanse <b><i>(Crossarchus ansorgei)</i></b>: Number, Topography and Convergence of Photoreceptors and Ganglion Cells in Relation to Ecology and Behavior

Rediscovery After Thirty Years Since the Last Capture of the Critically Endangered Okinawa Spiny RatTokudaia muenninkiin the Northern Part of Okinawa Island

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