Relative Age and Reproductive Status in Cryptomys Hottentotus Pretoriae (Rodentia: Bathyergidae) From South Africa

Rensburg, Leon Janse van; Chimimba, Christian T.; Merwe, M. van der; Schoeman, A. S.; Bennett, Nigel C.

doi:10.1644/ber-113.1

Cited by 17 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Roots, bulbs and corms are harvested along extensive, anastomosing tunnel systems. The reproductive skew and other life history characteristics as well as differences in habitat are at the basis of intra-and intercolonial polymorphism in quantifiable traits (Rosevear 1969; Honeycutt et al 1987;Burda et al 1999;Bennett and Faulkes 2000;Janse Van Rensburg et al 2004).…”

Section: Cryptomys Sensu Latomentioning

confidence: 99%

African Mole-rats (Bathyergidae): A Complex Radiation in Tropical Soils

Daele

Faulkes

Verheyen

et al. 2007

Subterranean Rodents

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Section: Cryptomys Sensu Latomentioning

confidence: 99%

African Mole-rats (Bathyergidae): A Complex Radiation in Tropical Soils

Daele

Faulkes

Verheyen

et al. 2007

Subterranean Rodents

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“…Recently, several research groups have succeeded in maintaining and breeding the animals in captivity, which will facilitate research in many different aspects of the biology of these mammals, including genetics, chromosomal evolution, evolution of sociality, ethology, biogeography, morphology, ecophysiology and sensory biology (e.g. Jarvis and Bennett, 1993;Bruckmann and Burda, 1997;Jarvis et al, 1998;Spinks et al, 2000a,b;Faulkes and Bennett, 2001;Nemec et al, 2001;Faulkes et al, 2004;Van Daele et al, 2004;Janse Van Rensburg et al, 2004;Scantlebury et al, 2006;Dammann and Burda, 2006). Furthermore, Fukomys is the subject of an increasing number of studies that investigate the mole-rats' behaviour and ecology (e.g.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cytochrome b sequence analysis reveals differential molecular evolution in African mole-rats of the chromosomally hyperdiverse genus Fukomys (Bathyergidae, Rodentia) from the Zambezian region

Daele

Verheyen

Brunain

et al. 2007

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

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African mole-rats (Bathyergidae, Rodentia) of the (eu)social genus Fukomys are one of the most speciose mammal genera endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. Fukomys distributed in the Zambezian phytochorion is characterized by extreme chromosomal variation (2n = 40-78). We inferred a molecular phylogeny of Zambezian Fukomys to resolve the interrelationships and the evolutionary history of the known chromosomal races. We sequenced the entire cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) for a total of 66 specimens representing 18 karyotypical races from Zambia. An additional 31 sequences were retrieved from GenBank including data on all other chromosomal races. The haplotypes belonging to a small chromosomal race from Salujinga cluster with the Fukomys mechowii (Giant mole-rat) haplotypes. Differential degrees of chromosomal variation are observed among the major mole-rat clades, which is most pertinent when comparing the central Zambezian Fukomys micklemi and the northern Zambezian Fukomys whytei clades. The karyotypically hyper-diverse (12 known chromosomal races) Fukomys micklemi clade shows low levels of cytochrome b sequence divergence. Within the F. whytei clade we find a more conservative pattern of chromosomal diversification (three known chromosomal races) while the levels of sequence divergence are much higher then in the F. micklemi clade. Our results suggest that chromosomal changes may drive phyletic divergence and, eventually, speciation. The observed cladogenetic events during the Plio-Pleistocene within the F. mechowii, F. whytei, F. damarensis and F. micklemi clades appear to coincide with climatically mediated speciation bursts in other savannah dwelling mammals, including hominids. Based on the molecular data presented, combined with morphological and chromosomal data, the taxonomic implication seems to be that Fukomys may contain several (undescribed) cryptic species.

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“…These include studies on mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber, Bathyergus suillus, Cryptomys hottentotus and Fukomys damarensis; Davis & Jarvis 1986;Bennett et al 1990;Begall & Burda 1998;O'Riain & Jarvis 1998;Scharff et al 1999); tuco-tucos (Ctenomys talarum; Zenuto et al 1999); the highveld mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus pretoriae; Janse van Rensburg et al 2004); and the Cape dune mole-rat (Bathyergus suillus; Hart et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While body mass has been used in the past, for example in subterranean mole-rats (Bennett et al 1990;Janse van Rensburg et al 2004), it is considered to be affected by soil type, the availability and quality of food, and in social species, by the social rank of an individual (Bennett 1989;Jacobs et al 1991;Wallace & Bennett 1998; Janse van Rensburg et al 2004). The estimation of relative age based on the degree of molar eruption and wear is considered to be at least more reliable, particularly for a homogenous sample that may not potentially be influenced by geographic variation (Chaplin & White 1969;Taylor et al 1985;Dippenaar & Rautenbach 1986;Chimimba & Dippenaar 1994; Janse van Rensburg et al 2004;Hart et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ontogenetic Variation and Craniometric Sexual Dimorphism in the Social Giant Mole-Rat,Fukomys mechowii(Rodentia: Bathyergidae), from Zambia

et al. 2010

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The degree of maxillary molar tooth-row eruption and wear were used to assign samples of the social giant mole-rat, Fukomys mechowii, from Zambia, into nine relative age classes in order to assess ontogenetic (age) variation and craniometric sexual dimorphism, with reference to body mass. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses showed craniometric differences between age classes 1-3 and age classes 5-9, with age class 4 being intermediate between these two age class groupings. This suggests that age class 4 lies at a point on a hypothetical growth curve where growth begins to stabilize. The intermediate placement of age class 4 in multivariate space broadly coincided with body mass categorizations into juveniles (age classes 1-3; <100 g), subadults (age class 4; c. 100-150 g), and adults (age classes 5-9; >150 g). The analyses also revealed the absence of sexual dimorphism in the relatively younger age classes 1-4 but its presence in the relatively older age classes 5-9, and these results are supported by data on body mass. These results may have implications in our understanding of the population and social structures, and reproductive strategies in this little-studied giant mole-rat.: Fukomys mechowii, ontogenetic variation, sexual dimorphism, craniometrics, Zambia.

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Relative Age and Reproductive Status in Cryptomys Hottentotus Pretoriae (Rodentia: Bathyergidae) From South Africa

Cited by 17 publications

References 19 publications

African Mole-rats (Bathyergidae): A Complex Radiation in Tropical Soils

African Mole-rats (Bathyergidae): A Complex Radiation in Tropical Soils

Cytochrome b sequence analysis reveals differential molecular evolution in African mole-rats of the chromosomally hyperdiverse genus Fukomys (Bathyergidae, Rodentia) from the Zambezian region

Ontogenetic Variation and Craniometric Sexual Dimorphism in the Social Giant Mole-Rat,Fukomys mechowii(Rodentia: Bathyergidae), from Zambia

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