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| (c) Vernaya meiguites (d) V. nushanensis (a) V. foramena (b) V. fulva Zhao, Wang, Li, Dou, Liu, Yang, Fan, Jiang, Li, Liao, Hu, Jiang, Liu et Chen, 2023 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10628 |
Abstract
The climbing mouse is a rare, small mammal listed as an endangered species on the China species red list. Molecular phylogenetic analyses and the evolutionary history of the genus remain unexplored because of the extreme difficulty in capturing individuals and their narrow distribution. Here, we collected 44 specimens, sequenced one mitochondrial and eight nuclear genes, and integrated morphological approaches to estimate phylogenetic relationships, delimit species boundaries, and explore evolutionary history. Molecular analyses and morphological results supported the validity of these four species. Here, we describe two new species, Vernaya meiguites sp. nov. and Vernaya nushanensis sp. nov., and recognize Vernaya foramena, previously considered a subspecies of Vernaya fulva, as a valid species. The estimated divergence time suggests that the climbing mouse began to diversify during the Pliocene (3.36 Ma).
Keywords: morphometric, new species, taxonomy, Vernaya
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| Pelage and tail comparisons among species of the genus Vernaya, (a) Vernaya foramena a1–a4 (museum number SAF201553); (b) Vernaya fulva b1–b4 (museum number SCNU02747); (c) Vernaya sp1 c1–c4 holotype (field number 2020MG045, museum number SAF201652); (d) Vernaya sp2 d1–d4 holotype (museum number SAF19287). (1) ventral view; (2) dorsal view; (3) lateral view; (4) tail variation. |
Vernaya meiguites sp. nov.
Vernaya nushanensis sp. nov.
Songping Zhao, Xuming Wang, Binbin V. Li, Liang Dou, Yingxun Liu, Siyu Yang, Ronghui Fan, Yong Jiang, Quan Li, Rui Liao, Miao Hu, Xuelong Jiang, Shaoying Liu and Shunde Chen. 2023. Molecular Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Genus Vernaya (Mammalia: Rodentia: Muridae) with the Description of Two New Species. Ecology and Evolution. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10628
