The Effectiveness of Molecular, Karyotype and Morphological Methods in the Identification of Morphologically Conservative Sibling Species: An Integrative Taxonomic Case of the Crocidura attenuata Species Complex in Mainland China

DOI Web Site 参考文献58件 オープンアクセス
  • Haotian Li
    College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
  • Yaoyao Li
    Marine College, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai 264209, China
  • Masaharu Motokawa
    The Kyoto University Museum, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
  • Yi Wu
    School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
  • Masashi Harada
    Laboratory Animal Center, Osaka City University, Osaka 545-8585, Japan
  • Yuchun Li
    Marine College, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai 264209, China

抄録

<jats:p>The conservation of morphology has resulted in considerable issues in the taxonomy of small mammals, especially for the identification of sibling species. Moreover, it is often difficult to completely solve such taxonomic problems by relying only on a single research method. The genus Crocidura is one of the genera with a conservative morphology and high species diversity. Among them, Crocidura attenuata has been considered in the field as the most widely distributed and common species. In fact, it is a species complex containing multiple species, and the classification and distribution of this species is controversial. In this study, the species and distribution of the Crocidura attenuata species complex experienced an integrated revision using three different levels of research methods: molecular, karyotype and morphology. The results show that (1) the C. attenuata species complex contains four known species (C. attenuata, C. tanakae, C. anhuiensis and C. dongyangjiangensis) and a cryptic species distributed in Guangxi, which may be the same undescribed species as the “C. attenuata” distributed in Vietnam. (2) C. attenuata is only distributed around the Sichuan Basin, C. tanakae is the most widely distributed throughout Southern China, and C. anhuiensis and C. dongyangjiangensis are almost sympatric in Southeast China. Furthermore, (3) although the molecular method lacks a unified threshold for species classification, it can rapidly and effectively identify the species of the C. attenuata species complex. Although karyotype and morphology methods cannot completely solve the species classification issues in respect of the C. attenuata species complex, they can provide supplemental information for taxonomic purposes. Therefore, the integrated taxonomic method can present the advantages of different methodological levels, and will provide further evidence for the taxonomy of sibling species with a conservative morphology.</jats:p>

収録刊行物

  • Animals

    Animals 13 (4), 643-, 2023-02-12

    MDPI AG

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