Multigene phylogeny of the Old World mice, Murinae, reveals distinct geographic lineages and the declining utility of mitochondrial genes compared to nuclear genes

The Input of DNA Sequences to Animal Systematics: Rodents as Study Cases

“…Its inclusion in the Muridae still awaits confirmation, especially from a molecular perspective. Deomyinae (corresponding to the former Acomyinae, see for details) emerged following various molecular analyses (including DNA-DNA hybridization experiments; Chevret et al, 1993) which confirmed that i) Acomys should not be considered as a Murinae (see Dubois et al, 1999 for instance), and ii) Deomys was closely related to Acomys, but also to Lophuromys and Uranomys (Michaux et al, 2001;Steppan et al, 2004Steppan et al, , 2005Verheyen et al, 1996). These four genera comprise a well-supported clade which should be named Deomyinae, with the Gerbillinae as sister group.…”

“…Nuclear and mitochondrial sequence data were predominantly used, but interspersed repeated DNA (LINE-1 or Lx family) also proved to be useful as heritable characters in defining the murine lineage or some of its sub-parts (Furano et al, 1994;Usdin et al, 1995). Steppan et al (2005), based on separate and combined analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear genes sequenced in most major murine groups, showed the basal split of a clade of Philippine old endemics (corresponding to Phloeomyini sensu Lecompte et al, 2008), the remaining taxa being organized within at least 7 geographically structured lineages. Among them, a South-east Asian "Rattus" clade (Rattini tribe sensu Lecompte et al, 2008) has recently been analyzed by Pagès et al (2010) in a thorough phylogeny-based taxonomic revision.…”

A Phylogenetic Study of Korean Rodents (Muridae, Sciuridae) Based on Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA

“…This mirrored the results of Lecompte et al (2008) and Michaux et al (2007) using the cyt b gene. Steppan et al (2005) …”

Quaternary Murid Rodents of Timor Part I: New Material of Coryphomys buehleri Schaub, 1937, and Description of a Second Species of the Genus

“…Murine rodents are one group about which knowledge of phylogenetic relationships has improved enormously within the past few years, with many of the key lineages represented by multiple mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences (Michaux et al, 2001;Lecompte et al, 2002aLecompte et al, , 2008Jansa and Weksler, 2004;Steppan et al, 2004Steppan et al, , 2005Rowe et al, 2008). Lecompte et al (2008) recently reviewed the commonality among the various molecular and other datasets and proposed a formal classification that recognizes 10 tribes within Murinae, grouped into several larger, informal clades (content of tribes is summarized in table 3).…”

“…For one cranial character (maxillary sinus elaboration), we currently lack sufficient comparative data to explore the phylogenetic significance of the observed morphological variation. To assist with assessment of character polarity, we occasionally consult the condition in other muroid subfamilies, including the two groups-Gerbillinae and Deomyinae-that are identified on molecular grounds as the closest relatives to Murinae (Adkins et al, 2003;Jansa and Weksler, 2004;Steppan et al, 2004Steppan et al, , 2005.…”